Golf World Daily - June 13, 2012

two days before the defense of his title is due to begin, rory mcilroy is already well into u.s. open mode. during a press conference marked by an almost total absence of his trademark openness, the 23-year-old ulsterman metaphorically left his driver in the bag and played it safe from every tee. what has the last year been like? “it’s been a great 12 months.” how important was playing well last week in memphis? “it was important for me.” tell us about your recent chat with Jack nicklaus. “it’s great when you have the opportunity to sit down with arguably the greatest player who ever lived.” what has changed most about your life since you won the u.s. open? “i’m viewed differently by the golfing public and maybe more recognized outside of golf.” and so it went on. in baseball parlance, mcilroy’s verbal utterings have apparently taken him from home run hitter to bunter. let’s hope he shows more enterprise when the championship gets going for real. chances are he will. in a rare burst of forthrightness he promised to “use driver eight or nine times, attack the course and play aggressively when i can.” that’s more like it. —John Huggan 02rory;‘bunts’ his;way;along