Following Day 2 win, Rory McIlroy explains decision to work with Pete Cowen

AUSTIN, Texas – Speaking publicly for the first time since it was confirmed he’d started working with a new swing coach, Rory McIlroy explained on Thursday why he felt it was time.

“[New swing coach Pete Cowen] has seen me grow up swinging the golf club. I don’t think he has any preconceived ideas in his head of how I should swing … I just felt like it was a natural fit in terms of Pete knows my goal,” said McIlroy, following his 4-and-3 victory over Lanto Griffin at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. “His short game expertise is unbelievable, as well, and I think just picking up those little nuggets from him is only going to help in the long run.”

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McIlroy also explained that Cowen’s swing philosophy dovetails with what he’s trying to work on at the moment, including a focus on the downswing and the structure of the right arm. An extended session working on those philosophies on the Austin Country Club range following his Day 1 loss – he hit 11 bags of balls – seemed to help and he remains in the hunt to advance to the weekend with a victory on Friday.

“I doubt that one session is going to pay off that much, but I think it’s just a process, and it’s something I’m going to have to continue to do each and every day and put my faith and my trust in the fact that what I feel like I’m trying to do is the right thing,” he said.

McIlroy also clarified longtime swing coach Michael Bannon’s role in his camp going forward.

“Michael is like a second dad to me. Michael and I’s agreement is still the same,” he said. “It’s just the fact that I haven’t been able to see him as much recently, and then the times that I have it feels like every time we saw each other it was almost like we were trying to do too much.”