Rory McIlroy’s ‘messy life’ contributed to his underwhelming performance at The Open, according to his former agent Andrew Chandler.
The Northern Irishman failed to make the cut as he finished on 11-over par at Royal Troon. McIlroy endured a torrid first day, completing the 71-par course in 79 shots after making a mess of the Postage Stamp hole and recording a handful of double bogeys.
He was unable to make up for it on Friday with a second round of 75 leaving him well adrift of the six-over par cut line. Chandler, who worked with McIlroy when he was represented by International Sports Management, has now revealed that he believes that the 35-year-old’s off-course issues are responsible for his downfall of late.
Speaking to talkSPORT about how McIlroy has not won a major title in 10 years, Chandler explained: “The top, top players obviously play better more often, and then the really top players take their chances. That’s all that’s happened with Rory. Rory’s played fantastically for ten years, he just doesn’t take any chances.
“Looking from the outside, and I haven’t seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me, it looks like his life is messy.
“You know what it’s like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you’re doing.”
McIlroy has faced several issues away from the golf course recently. He had planned to divorce his wife, Erica Stoll, before U-turning on the decision and dismissing the case.
McIlroy released a statement vowing that he and his wife realised their best future was ‘as a family together’.
Chandler believes that such matters are proving to be too great of a distraction for McIlroy to deal with whilst trying to compete at the highest level. He continued: “But it looks like Rory has spent a year and a half fighting LIV for the PGA Tour.
“Then the PGA Tour pulled the rug from under him, then he started talking about LIV not being too bad, then he had his marriage problems, and then he’s got such media scrutiny because he hasn’t won a major in ten years. So he just can’t get away from it. I think his life is really messy.”
