This week’s Memorial might be McIlroy’s final occasion earlier than this month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills – and he revealed he undertook a scouting mission to the New York course earlier this week.
McIlroy missed the reduce when Shinnecock final hosted the US Open in 2018, and whereas he was buoyed by what he noticed earlier than this 12 months’s championship, he outlined the significance of match organisers the US Golf Affiliation (USGA) sustaining management of the inexperienced speeds.
In 2018, Phil Mickelson apologised for putting a moving ball on Shinnecock’s sun-baked greens, whereas in 2004 the par-three seventh inexperienced was known as “unplayable” and needed to be watered over the last spherical after two gamers putted off the inexperienced into bunkers.
“The fairways are very beneficiant. They’re extra beneficiant than they have been in 2018 however the first reduce of tough is 5 inches lengthy,” stated McIlroy.
“The greens are rolling round 11, 11.2 [anything over 12 is considered fast and last year’s US Open at Oakmont was between 13 and 14], one thing like that and I actually do not suppose they should get a lot sooner.
“I believe if they will maintain them at that pace they will get them agency and use the opening places that they need to use with out having among the struggles that they’ve had the final couple of US Opens.
“It is all about them simply sustaining the inexperienced speeds actually the place they’re, not getting them too out of hand, and I believe it will likely be an ideal week.”
Grouped with two-time main winner Justin Thomas, McIlroy begins his bid for a primary Memorial win at 15:25 BST on Thursday.
