Faldo in firing line as McIlroy lets rip

A fired up Rory McIlroy will clock in for The Open Championship today insisting he is as hard-working as anyone in golf after rubbishing Nick Faldo’s claims he needs to focus more.

The world number two, struggling for form amid a change in both equipment and management companies, will today aim to kick-start a disappointing season at Muirfield in the third major of the year having issued a stinging rebuke to six-time major winner Faldo, who earlier this week said the Irishman needed to concentrate more on his golf.

“I saw what he said, and he said I should be at the course nine to five,” McIlroy said yesterday. “I actually was on the range at 6:15am, and got out of the gym at 6:15pm, a 12-hour day compared to his eight-hour day. Nick should know how hard this game is at times. And he’s been in our position before. And he should know how much work that we all put into it.”

There is little dispute that McIlroy, 24, has been getting little reward for his hard work this year, a far cry from late last summer when he won the second major of his career at the PGA Championship, one of five victories worldwide that placed him atop the money lists on both the European and PGA Tours.

His frustrations have been all too evident, with a mid-round walk-off at the Honda Classic in March, when he cited toothache, followed by a club-throwing incident at the US Open last month.

McIlroy missed the cut in his last start at the Irish Open and admitted feeling “a little lost” with his game.

“It’s like life. You’re going to go through highs and lows. It’s just about trying to work your way out of the lows,” he said yesterday.

“I haven’t played my best golf this year, but I’ve showed signs that it is there. It’s just a matter of trying to do that more often.

“It’s been difficult to try explain why I’m not playing well or why I haven’t had the results that I’ve wanted over the past six months. But I know I’m working on and doing the right things and I’m staying patient. And I know sooner or later it will turn around and I’ll play the golf everyone knows I’m capable of and the golf I know that’s capable of winning major championships.”

McIlroy expressed surprise his current woes were provoking such an outcry from former pros such as Faldo.

“The thing I think is: What’s the big deal? I haven’t had the best six months, but it’s okay. I’m fine. I’ve got a good life. It doesn’t bother me. I’m in a good place. And as I said, I’m working hard. I feel like I’m working on the right things. And sooner or later it will turn around and I’ll be back lifting trophies.”

McIlroy has received support from fellow pros such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and he added: “Those guys know. They still play, they’re still practising, they’re still competing. They know how hard this game is at times. It seems like a few guys have forgotten in a short space of time how hard you have to work and how tough this game can be.”

Faldo was not the only one in McIlroy’s firing line, the golfer responding with unusual passion when asked about Wayne Rooney’s current falling out with the golfer’s beloved Manchester United.

Rooney was reported to be angry and confused by new boss David Moyes’ suggestion he would be second-choice striker behind Robin van Persie and McIlroy said: “If I was Wayne I would be very confused, too. He’s had nine great seasons at Man United, and reading between the lines of what’s being said, I don’t think he needs to prove himself to anyone, I don’t think he needs to prove himself to the new manager.

“I don’t think he should be playing second fiddle to van Persie, he’s been a great player and a very loyal player for Man United.

“I hope it gets sorted pretty quickly and he obviously stays at Old Trafford.”