Faldo urges Rory to focus on his game

Two-time Muirfield winner Nick Faldo has told Rory McIlroy he must not be distracted by non-golfing issues if he wishes to rediscover his form this and become Open champion.

Six-time major winner Faldo, who won two of his three Claret Jugs at his venerable East Lothian links in 1992 and 2002, will swap his commentary position with US television for a tee time in the Open Championship on Thursday, his 56th birthday. The Englishman will be joining a field including world number two McIlroy, who has struggled all year with his form amid equipment and ball changes and a switch of management set-up and Faldo yesterday urged the 24-year-old 2012 PGA champion to knuckle down and focus on what he does best.

“I actually think it's a lot going on in his mind,” Faldo said, when asked what the two-time major winner needed to do to regain his form.