McIlroy Asks And Receives Frys.com Deferment

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Ron Kroichick reports that Rory McIlroy, who was slated to play the 2014 Frys.com Open as part of an agreement with the tour for a release to play in Turkey, has asked to put off his Frys.com appearance until 2015 and the tournament said ok.

Tiger Woods is still thought to be on tap to play this year as part of a similar agreement though no official announcement has been made for the October 9-12 event.

Judging by the hours Rory’s keeping in New York City—at least according to Page Six—he’s going to need some time off to recuperate.

Fivethirtyeight: "Rory McIlroy Could Be A Bigger Threat To Jack Nicklaus Than Tiger Woods"

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Fivethirtyeight.com's Benjamin Morris looks at a few different stats and presents graphs both fascinating and above my pay grade.

Thanks to reader Steve D for passing along a piece that asserts "McIlroy has built up one of the best starts to a career in modern golf history, essentially matching the Golden Bear through age 25, and each day Woods moves farther away from his prime."

Flash: Rory Attributes Great Play To Burying Himself In Game

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Hard to believe being single and not jetting around the world to watch Caroline Wozniacki lose again in the first round of a tennis tournament was not a positive, but that's what Rory McIlroy says.

Derek Lawrenson reports:

‘I think what happened has been for the better in terms of my golf,’ he revealed.

‘I’ve put a bit more time into it and it has refocused me. I mean, what else do I have to do now?

'I go to the golf course, I go to the gym and it’s just my life at the minute.

'I worked pretty hard before but the past couple of months I’ve really just buried myself in my game. It obviously works pretty well, so I am going to keep doing it.’

Jack: Rory Can Win 15 Or 20 Majors

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Appearing on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" Wednesday, Jack Nicklaus said he thinks Rory McIlroy can win 15 or 20 majors. He's raised the bar on his Rory praise in light of a win at The Open, and why not?

Bob Harig reports:

"I think Rory is an unbelievable talent," Nicklaus said. "I love his swing, I love his rhythm, I love his moxie. He's got a little swagger there, it's a little bit cocky but not offensive. I like that. I like the self-confidence in a young man. He's got an unbelievable amount of speed in his golf swing, he obviously hits the ball a heck of a long way. And he hits in there consistently and how he controls it.

"It depends on what he feels his priorities are, and that's his call. I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. But you just don't know what the guy's priorities are going to be in life 10 years from now."

The clip.

Wow: Rory's Ball At $5558 And Climbing

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So much for the collectibles market drying up.

Yesterday when I read Luke Kerr-Dineen's item on Rory's final Nike ball from Hoylake going up for sale at Green Jacket Auctions it was at $2852.

Now? $5558 and going up with the bidding ending August 9th.

If you were thinking of bidding and sending me the ball for Christmas, I'd prefer some more nostalgic stuff from the auction.

This painting would look nice in my office. Or this set of Tom Stewart irons would look mighty spiffy in my bag. Just thinking out loud.

Not April Fools: SI Puts Actual Golfer On Cover!

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As the trainers start prepping unis and lockers for the arrival of NFL stars (that's a cover!), July is close enough to NFL Training Camp Preview time that the first of this year's six Johnny Manziel covers could have been used.

But mercifully Sports Illustrated appears to have remembered their heritage of great Open Championship covers and put Rory McIlroy on the front of the "book."

Thomas Lovelock has captured him looking trim and very 21st century. 

Ed Sherman thought the cover took a jab at the PGA Championship by already hyping next year's Masters and Rory's run at the career Grand Slam.