McIlroy Working Hard To Fulfill Expectations

A guest post:

World number two Rory McIlroy will be desperate to get his season underway at this week’s US Open after failing to ‘live up to his own expectations’ in 2013.

The Northern Irishman, 22/1 in the Paddy Power US Open outright betting market has won two majors in the past two years, the US Open at Congressional in 2011 and last year’s PGA Championship on Kiawah Island, and also topped the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in 2012.

However, he has struggled to find his best form this year after a number of changes, both lifestyle and to his game, and goes into the upcoming championship at Merion searching for a catalyst.

“I haven’t lived up to my own expectations this year,” the 24-year-old said at the recent Memorial Tournament, where he failed to finish in the top 50.

“But I’m working hard to try and get the game back to where I know it can be.”

McIlroy will start the second major of the year in Pennsylvania among illustrious company. He has been drawn with Tiger Woods and Adam Scott as the world’s top three play the first two rounds together.

Woods, favourite in the golf odds to win the US Open, will be looking to lay down an early marker as he bids to end his five-year wait for a 15th major. His last triumph came at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.

The 37-year-old said he feels “very comfortable” with the way he is playing at the moment. He has every right to feel confident after four tournament wins so far in 2013.

“I can put myself in contention at every major I play in – whether I win or not, who knows – but if you put yourself there enough times, you’re going to win a bunch,” Woods told ESPN.

“That’s what I’ve done throughout my entire career – I’ve got 14 of them.”