Playing alongside Rory McIlroy on the final day of The Open Championship was an experience that Jordan Smith described as 'very special'. The Englishman, who finished the tournament with a tie for 40th place, shared his thoughts on the crowd's support and the overall atmosphere. Personally, I think that playing with a six-time major champion like McIlroy is an opportunity that not many players get. What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between the crowd's enthusiasm and McIlroy's underwhelming performance. In my opinion, the crowd's support was a bright spot for McIlroy, who has had a mixed season at the majors. From my perspective, the fact that the crowd was still cheering for him despite his struggles is a testament to the sport's ability to bring people together. One thing that immediately stands out is the contrast between McIlroy's performance at The Masters and his struggles at the other majors. This raises a deeper question: is McIlroy's decision to play a limited PGA Tour schedule affecting his performance at the majors? What many people don't realize is that McIlroy's decision to play a limited schedule may be a strategic one, but it could also be a factor in his inconsistent performance. If you take a step back and think about it, it's clear that McIlroy's decision to focus on a few select tournaments is a risk. A detail that I find especially interesting is the fact that McIlroy's 2026 season marks the first time since 2021 that he has finished outside the top 20 at two majors in the same year. This suggests that his decision to play a limited schedule may be having an impact on his overall performance. What this really suggests is that McIlroy's decision to play a limited schedule may be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows him to focus on a few select tournaments and potentially increase his chances of success. On the other hand, it may be contributing to his inconsistent performance at the majors. In the coming years, it will be interesting to see how McIlroy navigates the changes to the PGA Tour and whether he decides to play a full schedule. Personally, I think that McIlroy's decision to play a limited schedule is a strategic one, but it may also be a factor in his inconsistent performance. The future of McIlroy's career is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the crowd's support at The Open Championship was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the six-time major champion.
