Rory McIlroy's former agent blames Open Championship nightmare on 'really messy life' amid Erica Stoll divorce U-turn drama

Rory McIlroy's erstwhile supplier believes his 'messy' life is contributing to his awesome tourney slump. 

The Northern Irishman is competing astatine nan Open Championship successful Royal Troon. However, his struggles connected nan people person continued arsenic he is connected nan verge of missing nan trim aft finishing seven-over-par connected Thursday. 

Speaking to talkSPORT, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler collapsed down really his erstwhile client's drought is caused by stresses from different areas successful his life. 

'The top, apical players evidently play amended much often, and past nan really apical players return their chances,' he said. 'That's each that's happened pinch Rory. Rory's played fantastically for 10 years, he conscionable doesn't return immoderate chances.

'Looking from nan outside, and I haven't seen Rory for a mates of years, but to maine it looks for illustration his life is messy. You cognize what it's for illustration arsenic a sportsman, you person to person full attraction and support your mind connected what you're doing.

'But it looks for illustration Rory has spent a twelvemonth and a half fighting LIV for nan PGA Tour, past nan PGA Tour pulled nan rug from nether him, past he started talking astir LIV not being excessively bad, past he had his matrimony problems, and past he's sewage specified media scrutiny because he hasn't won a awesome successful 10 years.'

'So he conscionable can't get distant from it. I deliberation his life is really messy.' 

McIlroy began information 2 of his conflict pinch Royal Troon Friday greeting successful a bid to make nan trim successful Ayrshire aft falling unfortunate to nan celebrated postage stamp eighth spread connected Thursday. 

McIlroy's precarious position astatine nan last awesome of nan twelvemonth comes a period aft his dramatically nonaccomplishment to Bryson DeChambeau astatine nan US Open successful North Carolina. 

He had nan tourney astatine his mercy arsenic he led DeChambeau by 1 shot. However, he had a par putt from 2ft 6ins and missed. And past connected 18, McIlroy had different par putt from 3ft 9ins - which he besides missed.

The cinematic decorativeness astatine Pinehurst besides came amid a turbulent clip disconnected nan people too. 

McIlroy shocked nan play world by filing for divorcement from his woman of 7 years, Erica Stoll, conscionable days earlier nan PGA Championship successful May, declaring their matrimony irretrievably broken. 

During their short-lived separation, rumors linked nan PGA Tour prima to CBS Sports newsman Amanda Balionis, 38, whom he was seen hugging aft nan brace did an question and reply astatine nan RBC Canadian Open astatine Hamilton Golf and Country Club successful Hamilton, Ontario. 

However, McIlroy dropped yet different bombshell up of past month's awesome erstwhile he  called nan divided disconnected to settee their differences for their family. 

Stoll was precocious seen connected nan people while McIlroy competed astatine nan Scottish Open past week. However, she has yet to beryllium spotted astatine Royal Troon. 

Even aft their reconciliation, his glaring struggles proceed to return nan spotlight arsenic McIlroy has not won a awesome since nan PGA Championship successful 2014. 

Chandler was McIlroy's first head until nan golfer decided to portion ways pinch International Sports Management successful 2011. While noting really 'messy' McIlroy's life has gotten complete nan years, Chandler remained adamant that he could bounce backmost from nan adversity.  

'He was conscionable a focused kid who wanted to beryllium nan champion subordinate successful nan world, he conscionable wanted to triumph majors, but past arsenic he's sewage older - and everybody, to beryllium fair, arsenic they get older your life gets messier, doesn't it? You've sewage family, you've sewage wives, you've sewage business, you've sewage investment. Things get messier. 

'And I deliberation his life has sewage messy. Right now, he'll beryllium wondering what clip to hole nan level to spell home!'

'Listen, he'll spell retired and do his champion coming [Friday], and his champion is very good. So if he plays his best, he could make nan cut, but he'll person to play very, very well, won't he? And what is he, 7 over? He's sewage to sprout 67 aliases less, which he's good tin of.

'But successful his mind, it'll be, 'What clip tin I get retired of here?' The past spot I deliberation he wants to beryllium astatine nan moment, surely playing badly, is simply a play course. He conscionable wants to get backmost to his normal life.'