The Phoenix Open is Rory McIlroy’s, according to golf influencer Paige Spirinac.
In 2022, she picked Cameron Smith to win The Open and joke at the time that people. Would be a lot richer if they turned the sound on during her videos.
Smith became the first Australian to lift the Claret Jug since 1993. First major success saw his 20-under score for the tournament break Tiger Woods’ St Andrews record set in 2000.
McIlroy, who agonisingly missed out at the Home of Golf last summer. Must wait until this year to see if he can add to his haul of four majors.
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac picks Rory McIlroy to win Phoenix Open.
He did win the Dubai Desert Classic last month to kick his year off in style and Spirinac reckons he will continue his fine run at the raucous Phoenix Open where there is a £16.5million prize fund for the winner.
Videos of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale went viral last year when beer cans and bottles were lobbed on and around the green after Sam Ryder’s hole in one.
And with the Super Bowl in town, there could be some more beer guzzlers lurking.
Spirinac got into the NFL spirit by swapping the club for the pig skin as she showed off her footy skills.
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac picks Rory McIlroy to win Phoenix Open
Rory McIlroy believes he has never been a more “complete” player and is confident he can double his tally of worldwide victories.
McIlroy has won two of his last three events and has not finished outside the top four in his last seven as he battles to maintain his position as world No.1 ahead of Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler.
Victory in the Dubai Desert Classic at the end of January was the 32nd of McIlroy’s career, but the 33-year-old Northern Irishman has no intention of resting on his laurels.
“I’m playing well, I feel like consistency-wise I’ve been as good as I ever have been in my career,” McIlroy told a press conference ahead of the Phoenix Open, which starts Thursday (Friday AEDT) and has attracted 18 of the world’s top 20.
“I said at the end of last year I feel as complete a player as I ever have. If you look at my statistical categories there’s no real glaring weaknesses there and I worked really hard on that to try to become a more well-rounded player.
I think the results speak for themselves as well over, not just the past six months, but really the past 18 months post-Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. I feel like I’ve been on a really good run of form since then.”
The one area where McIlroy has not tasted recent success is in major championships, with his last victory coming in the 2014 US PGA, a third of three straight wins that season which also included the Open Championship.
Winning the Masters to complete a career grand slam remains McIlroy’s biggest goal and he finished runner-up to Scheffler at Augusta National last year following a stunning final round of 64.