Rory McIlroy back to conventional putting grip

Rory McIlroy abandoned a three-month putting grip experiment and finished birdie- birdie for an opening 71 in The Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

The 27-year old world No 3 changed to the left hand low putting style for the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral on March 3 insisted he needs more feel if he is to cop with the famously slick greens at Oakmont for the US Open, which starts in a fortnight. But even though he won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, he joked that he won in spite of his putting at The K Club.

“I won the Irish Open a couple of weeks ago with 127 putts for the week, so I didn’t putt particularly well. I think I had 32 putts the first three days and 31 putts on Sunday. So my ball striking was what won me that tournament,” said McIlroy, who had 29 putts in a 71 as playing partner Jordan Spieth had 26 but bogeyed his final hole for a 70.