Rory McIlroy's former agent blames Open Championship nightmare on 'really messy life' amid Erica Stoll divorce U-turn drama
- READ MORE: Rory McIlroy endures horror show at the Open Championship
- READ MORE: Rory McIlroy admits he didn't adapt well to Royal Troon conditions
Rory McIlroy's former agent believes his 'messy' life is contributing to his major tournament slump.
The Northern Irishman is competing at the Open Championship in Royal Troon. However, his struggles on the course have continued as he is on the verge of missing the cut after finishing seven-over-par on Thursday.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler broke down how his former client's drought is caused by stresses from other areas in his life.
'The top, top players obviously play better more often, and then the really top players take their chances,' he said. 'That's all that's happened with Rory. Rory's played fantastically for ten years, he just doesn't take any chances.
'Looking from the outside, and I haven't seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me it looks like his life is messy. You know what it's like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you're doing.
Rory McIlroy's former agent Andrew Chandler blamed his golf struggles on his 'messy' life
Chandler remains adamant that McIlroy can bounce back from adversity
'But it looks like Rory has spent a year and a half fighting LIV for the PGA Tour, then the PGA Tour pulled the rug from under him, then he started talking about LIV not being too bad, then he had his marriage problems, and then he's got such media scrutiny because he hasn't won a major in ten years.'
'So he just can't get away from it. I think his life is really messy.'
McIlroy began round two of his battle with Royal Troon Friday morning in a bid to make the cut in Ayrshire after falling victim to the famous postage stamp eighth hole on Thursday.
McIlroy's precarious position at the final major of the year comes a month after his dramatically loss to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open in North Carolina.
He had the tournament at his mercy as he led DeChambeau by one shot. However, he had a par putt from 2ft 6ins and missed. And then on 18, McIlroy had another par putt from 3ft 9ins - which he also missed.
McIlroy recently filed for divorce from Erica Stoll before calling off the split
His briefly-estranged wife Erica Stoll joined him at the Scottish Open last week
Chandler worked with McIlroy until he decided to depart from ISM in 2011
The cinematic finish at Pinehurst also came amid a turbulent time off the course too.
McIlroy shocked the golf world by filing for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, just days before the PGA Championship in May, declaring their marriage irretrievably broken.
During their short-lived separation, rumors linked the PGA Tour star to CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, 38, whom he was seen hugging after the pair did an interview at the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.
However, McIlroy dropped yet another bombshell ahead of last month's major when he called the split off to settle their differences for their family.
Stoll was recently seen on the course while McIlroy competed at the Scottish Open last week. However, she has yet to be spotted at Royal Troon.
Even after their reconciliation, his glaring struggles continue to take the spotlight as McIlroy has not won a major since the PGA Championship in 2014.
Chandler was McIlroy's first manager until the golfer decided to part ways with International Sports Management in 2011. While noting how 'messy' McIlroy's life has gotten over the years, Chandler remained adamant that he could bounce back from the adversity.
McIlroy finished seven-over-par on Thursday at the Open Championship
McIlroy lost to Bryson DeChambeau in heartbreaking fashion at the US Open in North Carolina
With the tournament there for the taking, McIlroy missed two putts inside four feet
'He was just a focused kid who wanted to be the best player in the world, he just wanted to win majors, but then as he's got older - and everybody, to be fair, as they get older your life gets messier, doesn't it? You've got family, you've got wives, you've got business, you've got investment. Things get messier.
'And I think his life has got messy. Right now, he'll be wondering what time to fix the plane to go home!'
'Listen, he'll go out and do his best today [Friday], and his best is very good. So if he plays his best, he could make the cut, but he'll have to play very, very well, won't he? And what is he, seven over? He's got to shoot 67 or less, which he's well capable of.
'But in his mind, it'll be, 'What time can I get out of here?' The last place I think he wants to be at the moment, certainly playing badly, is a golf course. He just wants to get back to his normal life.'
