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Rory McIlroy shows true colours with post-round actions at FedEx St Jude Championship
Rory McIlroy made a solid start to the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on Thursday, but instead of getting some rest after a gruelling day in the heat, he headed for the tennis court
Rory McIlroy is four shots off the lead at the FedEx St Jude Championship (
Rory McIlroy carded a two-under-par opening round at on Thursday, but his day of sporting activity was not over.
would have been forgiven for a well-earned rest after a day in the searing heat and humidity of TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, but instead, he opted for a game of tennis.
Holding a pair of racquets, for a picture with Wiley Barron – son of Champions Tour major champion Doug Barron – at a nearby tennis centre, with the image shared on the PGA Tour Champions’ social media platforms.
McIlroy, 35, is a big tennis fan. During the Olympics, where he narrowly missed out on a medal, travelled to Roland Garros to in doubles action against Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.
“I got to my first event last night watching Rafa and Carlos play doubles,” McIlroy said after his first round at . “I never watched Carlos play live in person before, which I was really excited for that. Excited for Rafa as well. That was really cool to see, and the atmosphere there was electric when they started to make that little fightback in the second set. That was cool to be a part of.”
McIlroy did not speak to reporters on Thursday after signing a card of 68, which featured an eagle, two bogeys and a pair of late birdies to move him four shots behind leader Chris Kirk. But ahead of the tournament, he said he hopes he can use the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which conclude in a fortnight with the Tour Championship, to “flip the script” on a frustrating season.
McIlroy has won three times in 2024, including two victories on the PGA Tour. But at times, his campaign has promised much more, particularly at the US Open in June when he blew a two-shot lead in the final five holes as Bryson DeChambeau claimed the title.
“I certainly don’t want to sit up here and belittle my achievements at all this year and what I’ve done, but at the same time, I expect a certain standard from myself,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, I’ve won a couple of times. I’ve had an opportunity to win a few more times than that and haven’t been able to get over the line. So I would have liked to have added a couple more to that win column.
“But there’s still three tournaments left in this PGA Tour season. I think I’ve actually got eight or nine tournaments left this year, but three on the PGA Tour, to turn an okay season into a very good one.
“I think when the bulk of the season has come and gone and you’ve got this opportunity of three weeks to really, I guess, flip the script a little bit or change the narrative and what that season means, I think that’s a motivating factor, and part of the reason that I’ve probably played well in the playoffs for the last three years.”