2022 Open Championship: Top 10 Power Rankings at St. Andrews
Oh, what could have been for Rory McIlroy the last time The Open Championship made it to St. Andrews in 2015.
The Northern Irishman won in 2014 at Royal Liverpool and was set to defend his title at The Home of Golf. An ankle injury he suffered while playing pick-up soccer forced McIlroy’s withdrawal.
The four-time major winner hasn’t added to his tally since the 2014 PGA Championship. It’d be a full-circle moment for him to get the long-awaited fifth at a historic venue he hasn’t played at in a major since 2010.
At age 21, McIlroy had a whirlwind of a week his first time around St. Andrews. He surged out to the lead with a Thursday 63, only to be blown out to sea with an 80 on Friday. That left him 11 back of leader Louis Oosthuizen, who went on to a seven-shot victory. McIlroy admirably fought back to be among the best of the rest, finishing in 69-68 for T-3rd.
McIlroy has been to St. Andrews several times as part of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He most recently came in 2019 when he took T-26th and shot 72-67 on the weekend at St. Andrews.
It’s fair to be dubious of the 33-year-old’s chances of winning given his eight-year major drought. It’s also fair to point out he’s playing some of the best golf in his life right now.
The level of McIlroy’s talent is evident when a T-19th in his last start at the Travelers Championship is disappointing. It still continued a streak of seven top-20s in a row, which includes top-10s in all three majors and a win against a strong field at the RBC Canadian Open.
McIlroy is not averse to playing the week before a major. He teed it up at the Valero Texas Open before this year’s Masters.
He made the interesting choice to skip last week’s Scottish Open.
The tournament featured the rest of the top 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
McIlroy isn’t jetting in the week of, though. He was among the host of big names who played in the J.P. McManus Pro-Am last Monday and Tuesday in Adare Manor in Ireland.
He also played at famed Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland with Tiger Woods, as well as getting some glimpses at St. Andrews before the Scottish Open guys make it to town.
McIlroy ranks first on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained per round (2.295). He’ll look to use his all-world driving to beat up on the short par-4s and gettable par-5s. McIlroy is third in SG off the tee (.828).
His bunker play is improved this season. Sand saves are up from 52.99% (63rd) to 61.33% (13th). In fact, most of his stats are up from 2020-21. The key is putting, which McIlroy is doing well throughout the season, but not when he most needs it. He’s eighth in SG putting (.597).