IN these health-conscious times, there’s always some pious, culinary crusader wagging their finger, tut-tutting and witheringly suggesting that “you are what you eat” with a dismissive snort of superiority as they chew away on soil, seeds and organic dust.
It was somewhat reassuring, therefore, to hear Rory McIlroy talking about the kind of dicey diet that would make the golf writers look like Gillian McKeith.
“I’d be the first one to say my diet probably hasn’t been the best this year,” said McIlroy as he revealed some of his mouth-watering weaknesses ahead of this week’s British Masters at Close House near Newcastle.
“When you travel a lot, sometimes it’s hard to get into a routine where you eat right. You’re always out at restaurants and sometimes you don’t make the best choices. Red wine, dark chocolate, burgers, fries . . . Like a dog, whatever you put in front of me it’s going to be eaten.”
Given the wheeze-inducing changes in elevation here at Close House – the uphill first hole, for instance, just about requires breathing apparatus and a Sherpa – McIlroy may find himself wolfing down vast quantities of Kendal Mint Cake over the next couple of days.
It’s hardly surprising that McIlroy has been comfort eating during a topsy-turvy 2017 which has been severely hampered by a niggling rib injury. The British Masters will be his penultimate event of the season before he closes down after next week’s Dunhill Links Championship for some serious rest and recuperation over a three month period which he insists could be a defining moment of his career.
It’s now 10 years since McIlroy made his professional debut in the British Masters at the Belfry. A lot has happened in a decade and the four-time major winner is eager for more once he gets a clean bill of health.
“I feel like I can be even better,” said the 28-year-old. “That’s why I think these next three months are going to be very important in my career going forward.
“These three months could give me the foundation to make the next 10 years even better than the 10 years I’ve just had. That would turn a great career into one of the greatest careers.”
McIlroy’s bothersome injury, which has led to pain transferring into his back, has been troubling him since a fairly intensive pre-season boot camp in January which led to him appearing for his first event of the year in South Africa with his ribs strapped up.
He took around eight weeks off before returning for the main part of the season but in that time the injury flared up again.
After August’s PGA Championship, he hinted that he may not play again in 2017 but he emerged for the FedEx play-offs only to fail to qualify for the end-of-season Tour Championship.
McIlroy has conceded that he was too hasty in coming back to play in the US Open. The benefit of hindsight is a great thing, of course. “My trainer was on the fence whether I should play then or not but I felt I could manage it,” he reflected.
“He said ‘you’re not going to be able to practise as much as you want and, mentally, how is that going to affect you knowing that you can’t put in the work that you usually do?’
“I turned to him a few weeks ago and said: ‘You were right’. It was my call and if I had to do it all over again I would have taken his advice.”
After the Dunhill next week, McIlroy will go for a thorough medical examination. “It’s basically a full health MOT,” said McIlroy, who is facing his first winless year since 2009. “Get the blood done, get food allergy testing done.”
At the top of the golfing tree, the big hitters tend to adopt a less-is-more policy when it comes to scheduling.
After such a frustrating year, McIlroy, fitness permitting, is looking to pack them in during 2018. “I’m looking at playing more events next year than I did in my rookie year,” he said.
“I played maybe 28 or 29 then. I’ve missed golf this year. I’ve got a wife that loves to travel, we don’t have kids yet. It’s perfect.”
With a more disciplined diet on the horizon, Mr and Mrs McIlroy will have to make some sacrifices.
“She’s a great baker and all that we watch is the Great British Bake Off,” he said.
You can’t have your cake and eat it, though.
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