McIlroy hoping to play out of slump

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND » Just three years ago, Rory McIlroy was the best player in the world without a trace of argument. He won the final two majors of the year, with a World Golf Champi- onship title in between. He had reason to believe his reign would last as long as he wanted it to.

Now he’s simply trying where it sort of clicks and to get back into the conver- I’ll be off and running. I’ve sation. had little periods like this

The starkest reminder of before in my career, and I’ve the state of his game was been able to bounce back not so much missing three from them. I’d say I was in cuts in his last four tournaments. worse positions than this. It was being told on I feel like my game ... the the eve of the British Open pieces are all there, it’s just that the bookies listed him about trying to fit them together.” at 20-1 to win at Royal Birkdale. As for his odds?

“Good time to back me,” That speaks to a broader McIlroy said. “I mean, look, picture of the 146th edition if I was a betting company of the British Open, which and I saw my form over the starts Thursday at Royal past few weeks, yeah, that’s Birkdale. Dustin Johnson, probably a fair enough the No. 1 player in the price. But again, all it takes world, and Jordan Spieth is one week for those odds have taken turns as the favorite to go back.” by the bookies. Right

He has been through behind them is Jon Rahm, these mini-slumps more the dynamic 22-year-old than once in the 10 years from Spain who already has since he first played the won twice this year. Masters British Open at Carnoustie. champion Sergio Garcia McIlroy missed four of five is right up there. cuts in 2012, including his There is no clear favorite. title defense in the U.S. There is no clear plot that Open, and ended the summer is any different from the by winning the PGA previous few majors, except Championship to return to for the U.S. Open held on a No. 1 in the world. new course in Wisconsin.

This one has been the Johnson was close to being most aggravating because a dominant figure when it involves injury. he won three straight tournaments

The hairline rib fracture against the strongest he suffered in January fields of the year at the during the South African time, and then he slipped Open is no longer an issue, down the stairs on the eve but it forced him to sit of the Masters, wrenched out nearly two months, and his back and didn’t swing then he played only once in a club for a month. two months between the Jason Day ended last year Masters and the U.S. Open at No. 1 in the world, and in part because it was acting then found himself emotionally up. wrapped up in

It all led to what McIlroy tending to his mother, who describes as a start-andstop was diagnosed with lung year, one that to this cancer. point doesn’t include a trophy. McIlroy wouldn’t have seen this coming at the end

“But I’m in good spirits,” of last year when he won McIlroy said. “I feel like it’s the FedEx Cup. all coming together. I’m just “But these things sort of waiting for that round or crop up out of nowhere and that moment or that week they challenge us,” he said.

PETER MORRISON — AP Rory McIlroy speaks during a news conference ahead of the British Open.