McIlroy's efforts to keep up with DeChambeau affect his once pristine swing

With the ice broken, McIlroy willingly elaborated that DeChambeau’s dominating performance in winning the U.S. Open at Winged Foot by six shots sent him down a rabbit hole

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 12th green during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – As tour players have become acutely aware over the last year, silence can be excruciating. But with the return of fans on the PGA Tour, it was a different silence that emphasized the depth of Rory McIlroy’s current frustrations.

After adding a 3-over 75 to his opening 79 to miss the Players Championship cut by 13 strokes, McIlroy left Sawgrass frustrated and exhausted after playing seven events over two continents in an eight-week span.