(Reuters) – In-form Rory McIlroy has set his sights on dislodging Hunter Mahan from the top of the FedExCup standings after this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts on a course he says is ideally suited to his game.
Two years ago, McIlroy won the elite FedExCup playoff event held at the TPC Boston in Norton during a sensational PGA Tour campaign highlighted by four victories, including a second career major, and player of the year honours.
After a dominant run of golf in recent weeks that has earned him three consecutive tournament wins, including two more major crowns, McIlroy believes he is in greater control of his overall game than he was in late 2012.
“There are some similarities,” the Northern Irish world number one told reporters at the TPC Boston on Thursday when asked to compare his red-hot form over the past month with that of two years ago.
“My frame of mind and where I am mentally is very similar. I am very relaxed, I’m going out on to the golf course and I’m not really putting a whole lot of pressure on myself.
“I’m just going out and playing and I know that if I play well, that I’ll have somewhat of a chance to maybe win the tournament.”
That “somewhat of a chance” translated into a series of sizzling displays as McIlroy won last month’s British Open, his first World Golf Championships title at the Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship in successive starts.
“My golf game feels probably a little more in control now than it did back then (in 2012),” the 25-year-old said on the eve of the second of four FedExCup playoff events.
“Certain shots that I’m able to hit now that I maybe wasn’t able to hit back then. And I’m definitely driving the ball as good as I ever have, if not better.
“At the same time, I feel that I am a more experienced and more developed player now than I was a couple of years ago.”
McIlroy was thwarted in his bid to claim a fourth consecutive PGA Tour victory at last week’s Barclays tournament, where American Mahan triumphed by two shots to replace the Northern Irishman at the top of the FedExCup standings.
With McIlroy back this week at a venue where he feels very comfortable with his game, he is eager to take full advantage.