Wozniacki Blamed For McIlroy Recent Record

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 18th July 2013

Wozniacki Blamed For McIlroy Recent Record

epa03760897 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark takes on Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 26 June 2013. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Caroline Wozniacki has plenty to deal with on her own plate right now with Yonex ripping up her racket contract, Thomas Hogstedt distancing himself from any coaching liaison and disappointing results at the French Open and Wimbledon to overcome. But now two of the biggest names in golf have pointed accusing fingers at the Danish former world no.1, saying she has distracted boyfriend Rory McIlroy.

Johnny Miller, the former British and US Open champion, maintained McIlroy’s recent slump could be attributed to his romantic relationship with Wozniacki while Sir Nick Faldo, insisted McIlroy is suffering from a lack of professional performance and must concentrate on his golf.

Faldo, a three-time British Open champion and also triple winner of the Masters, said of McIlroy: “I actually think it’s a lot going on in his mind,” said the. “You need 100 per cent concentration, off the golf course, practicing, as well.”

Speaking to the San Francisco Examiner about McIlroy, NBC golf analyst Miller said: “He’s in love for the first time. It’s a wonderful feeling – and it’s distracting.”

McIlroy responded to the criticism and said yesterday: “I played 18 holes on the first Monday I came here, I played 27 on the Tuesday – and then I played 18 Sunday, 18 Monday, 18 yesterday and I’ll play nine today. So that’s a lot of holes.

“Most ideal I can think is to go to the club at nine in the morning, hit balls all day long, and leave at five. You have to do that. You have a 20-year window of opportunity as an athlete Concentrate on golf, nothing else.”

McIlroy missed the cut at the recent Irish Open after cutting back on his preparation time to stay with Wozniacki at Wimbledon but he responded to the criticism by saying: “I will work as hard as I can at my golf but there are other things which are important too.”

Wozniacki, now ranked world no.10, recently lost in the second round at both Roland Garros and the All England Club.