'Part-timer' Rory McIlroy reveals the two trophies he still wants to win

For all the titles he’s won in the game, including six majors, McIlroy would love to add the events on the PGA Tour hosted by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to his collection after coming up empty-handed this far in both the Memorial Tournament and the Genesis Invitational.

His latest chance to have Nicklaus shaking his hand at the back of the 18th green at Muirfield Village - named on the back of the American landing the first of his three Open Championship victories at Muirfield in 1966 - comes in this week’s 50th anniversary of the 18-time major winner’s event in his home city of Columbus in Ohio.

“Yeah, I would say here and Tiger's event at Riviera, they're the two that I would love to win,” admitted McIlroy, speaking in a press conference on Wednesday for the latest $20 million Signature Event on the US circuit. “I've been lucky enough to win at Bay Hill, but not while Arnold [Palmer] was alive.

“So I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack's hand. Also, Jack and I share a nice history. I've known him for nearly 20 years. He's been nothing but great to me and my family. So, yeah, this is certainly one I would love to get done.”

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler has won the last two editions while the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau also landed the title in the past decade. McIlroy said it had been a course that had “frustrated” him in the past and explained why that had been the case.

‘More disciplined strategy’ is required for Muirfield Village

“Yeah, for being such a long golf course, I feel like it takes driver out of my hand a lot, which I pride myself on being one of my biggest weapons,” said the world No 2. “The fairways pinch in right around the spots where I would be finishing driver.

“So it's frustrated me in a way that I feel like my biggest weapon is in some way neutralised here. But hopefully this is the week that I put it all together. It's just about me being a little more disciplined and not being so aggressive with my strategy.”

Since retaining his Masters title in April, McIlroy has only played in two events - the Truist Championship and the PGA Championship. “Yeah, I feel a bit like a part-timer these days,” he admitted, smiling.

He then explained why that had been the case recently. “I had a couple weeks off,” he added. “We got ourselves settled into our house in London (close to Wentworth) for the summer. So it was nice to be over there for sort of like the last ten days. Yeah, a little bit of practice. Stopped off at Shinnecock on the way to here on Monday. Scouted it a little bit and played.”

Scheffler also visited Shinnecock Hills, venue for the upcoming US Open earlier in the week, and, like him, McIlroy observed that the fairways are “very generous”. He also said the USGA had a chance to tee up a memorable US Open as opposed to one that people would want to forget in a hurry.

“The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2, something like that. And I really don't think they need to get much faster,” said McIlroy. “So, to me, it's all about them just maintaining the green speeds really where they are and not getting them too out of hand, and I think it will be a great week. If it's set up the right way, I think it's one of the best championship tests in the country. I mean, it's an amazing golf course.”