Rory McIlroy has fallen to No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings and he is currently ranked No. 41 in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 30 make it to the Tour Championship at East Lake.
McIlroy finished the season ranked No. 49 in the FedEx Cup standings and has moved up eight places with a T-19 at the Barclays and T-47 at the Deutsche Bank.
Last year he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island and added another two wins at the Deutsche Bank and the BMW Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs. He was the No. 1 ranked player in the world and appeared to be unbeatable.
2013 brought a new equipment deal, swing changes, a new management team and girl problems. That is quite a lot of change even for a 24-year-old to absorb.
In 15 starts this year he has five top-10 finishes including a runner-up at the Valero Texas Open. He only missed one cut on the PGA Tour in 2013, although he did withdraw from the Honda Classic in March in a fit of frustration.
With $1.6 million in earnings this year many touring professionals would have considered 2013 a very successful year. McIlroy is golfing royalty, however, and expected to win major championships and dominate regular tour events.
His overall performance in the majors yielded only one top-10 finish this year. He finished T-8 at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Even though 2013 has been below everyone’s expectations for McIlroy, he still could turn it around by successfully defending his BMW Championship title and winning the Tour Championship.
At No. 41 on the FedEx Cup standings, he will need a top-10 or better finish to earn a spot at East Lake.
A 65 in the second round at the Barclays and a 64 in the third round at the Deutsche Bank proves the form that has earned him two major championships is still present.
Life sometimes gets in the way of succeeding in your career. Professional golfers have families and deal with injuries that golf fans never learn about.
Life seems to have distracted young Rory, but he could regain his focus, confidence and world-class form at any moment.
Can he find it in time to move into the Top 30 and earn a spot in the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake next week is the question.