Starting the year with seven consecutive top 10 finishes, many golf fans hoped 2020 would be the year Rory McIlroy finally ended his drought at major championships.
However, as the world was upturned by the COVID-19 pandemic so too was McIlroy's good form on the course.
The Northern Irish golfer has struggled to rediscover his pre-lockdown groove and finished tied 33rd at last weekend's PGA Championship in Harding Park.
That finish ensured the 31-year-old's major drought has now stretched beyond the six-year mark, something few would have expected after he won his fourth major at 25 years of age.
Speaking on this week's Golf Weekly, former European Tour golfer Gary Murphy queried the reasons behind McIlroy's disappointing dry spell at majors.
"He's just frustrating to watch because you know how good he is," Murphy told Joe Molloy and Dave McIntyre on Golf Weekly.
"And maybe that's his genius. Maybe he's more Lionel Messi than a Ronaldo, maybe he's not as workmanlike as he possibly should be to grind out some more wins than what he has.
"But it's a huge disappointment – not only to him, but to us – that he's only won four majors, and I say only won four majors."
Referencing McIlroy's "mind-boggling" ability with a driver, Murphy turned the conversation to what he sees as the Holywood golfer's weak spot.
"He's not a good wedge player – that's pretty much it," he explained.
"I think more of it is decision making than an inability to be able to reduce the yardage, increase the yardage, change the ball flight.
"He's not a good wedge player - that's pretty much it"
Gary Murphy discusses Rory McIlroy's wedge woes🏌️♂️😰 @NOWTVIreland #OTBGolfWeekly pic.twitter.com/ly9kQRfaaL— Off The Ball (@offtheball) August 14, 2020
"He can do all that. I just think he gets stuck on decision making.
"When he's amazing with his driver it does give him an advantage, but it's only an advantage if you take that advantage," Murphy added.
Admitting that he was unsure whether Harry Diamond – McIlroy's caddie – could do more or whether McIlroy simply wasn't following Diamond's instructions enough, Murphy argued that fans may just have to be patient with the world number three.
"Rory is going to be that player through all of his career that is going to frustrate us and then we're just going be in awe.
"I think that's what we have to accept. And I'm not cheerleading in any shape or form because you need to call guys out when you do, but I think we need to just enjoy the frustration because it's worth it when he turns up."
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