Chubby Chandler expresses doubts about Rory McIlroy’s chances at US Open
Chubby Chandler, Rory McIlroy’s former agent, has voiced significant concerns regarding the world No. 2’s ability to thrive at next month’s US Open, citing that the Shinnecock Hills layout is unlikely to complement the Northern Irishman’s strengths, reports BritPanorama.
Chandler, who represented McIlroy from 2007 to 2011, anticipates that the course conditions will not favour the five-time major champion. “No, I don’t think Shinnecock suits him to win at the US Open,” he stated. “It’s probably going to be fast, it’s probably going to be windy. I would say it’s doubtful he gets the conditions that would suit him.”
The 37-year-old last secured the US Open trophy in 2011. Chandler has long maintained that McIlroy performs below par on courses characterized by firm and fast conditions, a notion seemingly affirmed during the recent PGA Championship, where McIlroy struggled with his driver at Aronimink.
“I’ve always had this idea about Rory: he never plays firm, fast courses well. That seemed to bear that up this time,” Chandler explained. Throughout the championship, McIlroy found only four or five fairways per round, resulting in considerable time spent in the rough. “The driver let Rory down,” Chandler commented, adding that the successful players were consistently hitting fairways.
Despite his reservations about the upcoming event, Chandler remains optimistic about McIlroy’s prospects in major championships in the long run. “I definitely think he’ll win more than a couple of majors,” he said, emphasizing the golfer’s extraordinary length off the tee as a crucial asset when conditions permit its effective use.
“The advantage of hitting it 328 yards is massive, but not if you’re hitting it in the cabbage all the time,” Chandler remarked, drawing attention to how McIlroy’s success in recent Masters tournaments relied on softer spring conditions that are gentler on greens and fairways. “He’s going to get another 20 or 30 chances to win a major, and they’re not all going to be like that.”
With experience at Shinnecock Hills already, McIlroy’s previous outing there was less than fruitful, as he did not make the cut during the 2018 tournament. In terms of the overall atmosphere at the PGA Championship, Chandler described it as “quite pleasant,” notwithstanding an incident involving McIlroy’s request for security to manage a heckler.
In the ever-competitive arena of golf, the spectre of McIlroy’s potential juxtaposed with his challenges at certain courses serves as a reminder of the nuanced interplay between skill and environment, and how even the most talented can find themselves sidelined by conditions that defy their strengths.
