TLDR:
- Rory McIlroy won the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry, joining a prestigious club of golfers.
- McIlroy’s success was attributed to having fun and playing in a team environment.
Rory McIlroy finding his smile in New Orleans may be exactly what he needed to kick-start his game
In a sport that has become obsessed with shiny new objects, it is still historical achievement that rings the most true and authentic. Rory McIlroy on Sunday in New Orleans joined an exclusive club of golfers after concluding a team event that seemed to infuse him with a tremendous amount of delight. The victory alongside Shane Lowry at the 2024 Zurich Classic bumped McIlroy into the group of a now-dozen golfers who have won at least 25 times on the PGA Tour with at least four major championships to their name.
McIlroy is often at his best when playing for something bigger than himself, and he seems to thrive in team environments. His victory in New Orleans was a result of re-injecting fun back into his game, especially playing alongside his longtime buddy Lowry.
Whether McIlroy can sustain this joy and translate it into success for the rest of the year remains to be seen. With several majors coming up, there is hope that McIlroy’s recent win will fuel him to perform well and potentially add more titles to his already impressive resume.
At 32 years old, McIlroy still has a few prime years ahead of him, and there is a belief that he can continue to rise in the ranks of PGA Tour victories and major championships. For now, the focus is on maintaining the momentum from his win in New Orleans and carrying it through the rest of the season.