Peter Lawrie exclusive on Rory McIlroy’s chances of winning a major in 2023
It’s nine years since Rory McIlroy won his last major which was the PGA Championship in 2014. McIlroy had a great opportunity of winning The Open at St Andrews in 2022 but lost out to Cameron Smith on the final day. Ex European Tour winner Peter Lawrie gives his opinion on the possibility of McIlroy winning a major after his disappointment at Augusta. “Before The Masters I would of said absolutely but since The Masters I don’t know”.
The second major in 2023 is the PGA Championship at Oak Hill which starts on May 18th “He has the game and he has the talent but I’m not sure whether he has the mental capacity to get over the line”. The amount of good players on tour nowadays is unbelievable which includes world number one Jon Rahm and it’s getting tougher for McIlroy to win one. “I think it’s proving more difficult as the years go on and I think Rory puts more pressure on himself as you would love to see Rory free real it”. Royal Liverpool hosts The Open in 2023 and McIlroy will fancy his chances at this venue as he won there in 2014.
Seamus Power has risen to 37 in the world golf rankings due to his two PGA Tour wins in both 2021 and 2022. “Yes I think he will be on the team”. Power finished in a tie for 18th at the recent Wells Fargo Championship and goes into the PGA Championship in decent form. “It hasn’t gone perfectly so far suppose the season is only starting once the Masters kicks in”.
The Irishman became the third golfer to get back to back holes in one at The Masters par three competition. “to have two holes in one on the par three one after the other you think he was destined to play well but I think Seamus would be definitely on the Ryder Cup team”. Power finished tied ninth at 2022 PGA Championship and Lawrie expects the Waterford star to have a big Summer. “I think he will have a decent season his confidence is building up on a week to week basis and he will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the year”.
Experienced European players Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson and Martin Kaymer will all have to say goodbye to the DP World Tour. “They shouldn’t be given the opportunity to pick and choose whether they go play LIV then come back to the European Tour as it’s two separate tours”. LIV have made plenty of statements throughout the last year as they got European Ryder Cup Captain Henrik Stenson and current The Open champion Cameron Smith to join the breakaway tour. “LIV are carrying out their business in the UK, Asia, Middle East and it really is a competitor tour rather than a tour that stands beside the normal tour”.
A victory for the DP World Tour as they won their legal battle against LIV Tour in April 2023. “I was all on for the European Tour to be given the option to give releases and after this tribunal that went ahead they were given the option to either suspend or fine the players for playing without release”. LIV players that appeared in DP World Tour have to pay fines up to £100,000 within 30 days of court decision.
Fields are not as strong in DP World Tour events due to LIV as the highest ranked player at the recent Italian Open was Adrian Meronk who is currently ranked 46th in the world golf rankings. “It doesn’t do any favours to the guys that are coming up because it has diluted the European Tour”. LIV Tour players are allowed to play in all four majors in 2023 and this creates an added storyline at the majors as Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka all finished in the top five at The Masters. “I think like everything if there is a certain criteria that the majors have then I think you deserve to play”. Lawrie gives his opinion on the future of LIV players playing in the majors. “I think you will see fewer LIV guys playing in majors going forward”.
Shane Lowry, Seamus Power, Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy have all confirmed to play in this year’s Irish Open at the K Club. “I think K Club is a wonderful venue as they have a hotel on site and it ticks a lot of boxes”. it’s seven years since Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open and hopefully 2023 could be the year for a Irish victor. “The golf course is superb and I think the Irish Open will be a huge success this year”.
Lawrie looks back at a fantastic amateur career which was instrumental in turning professional. “I won the Bure Scratch Cup, I won the Irish Close and then I won the Mullingar Scratch Cup three weeks on the bounce”. The Dubliner had a excellent first year on tour as he won Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2003. “How can I put it people always say I’m too modest in this one I think I got very lucky to win it, I’m absolutely delighted to have won it and to be the only Irishman to ever won it will be a hard thing to beat”. 2008 Open De Espana holds special memories for Lawrie as he won his first event on the European Tour. “I was very fortunate to win one doesn’t come around very often unfortunately I finished my career with one win”.
It was an absolute pleasure to sit down ex professional golfer and European Tour winner Peter Lawrie.