Friday Feels Like a Sneaky Big Round for Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy and his motivation. It’s been one of the biggest stories in golf since he claimed the Green Jacket in April to complete the Career Grand Slam. Some thought he’d rip off four or five more major championships in the next several years, while some were unsure where he’d go next.

To this point, the answer’s been pretty clear: the Northern Irishman has had trouble getting back into that chaser’s mindset. It doesn’t help that he hasn't had his best stuff over the last few months, but still, at times he’s looked uninterested.

But on Wednesday during his pre-tournament press conference at Travelers, he talked about a “feeling” he found at Oakmont, especially with driver. He led the field at the U.S. Open in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and drove the ball on a string during an opening-round bogey-free 6-under 64 at TPC River Highlands on Thursday.

He’ll tell you himself, when the driver is going, it flows through the rest of his game. He feeds off it.

Rory went to bed last night two shots back of Austin Eckroat and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who sit at 8-under, so another solid round on Friday will put him in a beautiful place to chase a title over the weekend.

If that isn’t motivating enough, I don’t know what is.

RELATED: Jordan Spieth WDs from Travelers | Treehouse Beer Garden

That’s why I feel like Friday is a sneaky big round for Rors. If he’s able to get it going, if he’s able to control his golf ball in the breezy conditions in Cromwell, Connecticut, and put himself near or in the lead come the afternoon, that would undoubtedly get his juices flowing again.

For the best players in the world, it’s tough to care too much over the weekend if they’re not in contention. They’re out there to win, not tie for 20th. Maybe all Rory has been missing since the Masters is the pressure, the excitement of having one hand on the hardware on the back nine on Sunday.

He dominated the early part of the season with three wins—AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Masters—but it’s been all Scheffler since. Chasing down the Texan at the Travelers would remind a lot of folks that it isn’t just Scheffler then everybody else out here.

Friday could be the start of Rory’s “don’t forget about me” summer.

I can’t wait to watch.