Rory McIlroy stormed into 2025 with a statement victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and while his dominant back-nine performance turned heads, one of golf’s sharpest minds believes the world still isn’t giving McIlroy the credit he deserves—especially when it comes to a shockingly underrated part of his game.
Trevor Immelman, 2008 Masters champion and elite golf analyst, believes McIlroy’s short game is being massively overlooked.
McIlroy’s ‘Tiger-Like’ Pebble Beach Performance Sends a Message
McIlroy’s two-shot victory over Shane Lowry was no ordinary win—it was a reminder of the Northern Irishman’s generational talent.
Speaking on Fried Egg Golf, Immelman compared McIlroy’s finishing stretch to peak Tiger Woods, praising the way he flipped the switch and dominated the field when it mattered most.
“That performance at Pebble Beach was spectacular. That back-nine performance though, it was kind of Tiger-like. When it was time, he just put his foot on the gas and was like, ‘Alright boys, that’s enough playing around.’ And then boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. From 12 through 16, it was just, ‘Okay, I’m winning this, you guys can play for second.’ Super, super impressive,” Immelman said.
But what really caught Immelman’s attention wasn’t McIlroy’s power—it was his short game.
McIlroy’s Short Game Is “Super, Super Underrated”
While the golf world constantly raves about McIlroy’s ball-striking and distance, Immelman believes his touch around the greens doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
“He is a super, super underrated chipper and bunker player. Nobody talks about how good his hands are around the greens,” Immelman emphasized.
McIlroy’s elite scrambling ability has often saved him in big moments, yet discussions around his bunker play and short game finesse rarely make headlines.
And there’s more.
“The putting, in the last couple of years, it’s not holding him back. It’s like a semi-weapon, and everything else he has is like a weapon of mass destruction,” Immelman added.
McIlroy’s Achilles Heel—and the One Thing Holding Him Back
For all the praise McIlroy has received for his renewed focus and technical adjustments, one major concern remains—his wedge game.
Throughout 2024, McIlroy’s inability to convert from scoring positions cost him dearly, particularly in major championship moments. Whether it was wayward approaches or surprising mis-hits, his inconsistency inside 125 yards has been his biggest liability.
Meanwhile, two of his most memorable shots from 2024 came with the putter—and yet, it’s the wedge play that continues to haunt him when it matters most.
Why Winning PGA Tour Events Isn’t Enough for McIlroy Anymore
McIlroy’s dominance on the PGA Tour is undeniable—he’s already racked up 24 victories, and on pure talent alone, he could easily double his major count.
But winning regular tour events isn’t what defines his legacy anymore.
The only thing that can erase McIlroy’s decade-long major drought is lifting one of golf’s four biggest trophies.
Immelman, along with the entire golf world, knows that McIlroy has the ability to do it. The only question is—when?
Will 2025 finally be the year McIlroy gets it done at Augusta, Pinehurst, or St. Andrews?
His short game might be underrated—but his major drought is anything but.