'I’m so far away from where I need to be': Rory McIlroy concerned ahead of BMW Championship

CONCERNED: Rory McIlroy expressed concerns about the state of his game after finishing above only two other players in the FedEx Cup St Jude Championship. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Rory McIlroy expressed concerns about the state of his game after finishing above only two other players in the FedEx Cup St Jude Championship.

The world number two, who has not played since last month’s Open Championship, admitted he is “so far away from where I need to be” heading into next week’s second event of the FedExCup, the BMW Championship.

“Obviously didn’t come in here with a ton of reps, (it) almost felt like the more the week went on the more I felt lost with my golf swing a little bit,” said the Northern Irishman after a two-over 72 saw him finish 66th out of 68, failing to break par in four rounds this week.

“The swing wasn’t in sync and obviously I didn’t do a ton of practice coming in here.

“I’m so far away from where I need to be to even feel like I have a chance. I’ve just got to keep working and hope it turns around a little bit.

“I guess nice to shake the rust off a little bit but I’m going to have to work pretty hard between now and next Thursday to feel like I have any sort of golf game to compete next week.

“To me it’s more about obviously the execution of what I’m doing right now, and the execution wasn’t there this week.

“I’m going to have to sort of put the head down and grind from now until Thursday to try to feel like I have any sort of chance next week.”

Regardless of his result at Bellerive in St Louis next week McIlroy is assured of making to the 30-man season-ending Tour Championship as he looks to win an unprecedented fourth FedExCup and his first since 2022.