9/22/2012

Homeless Rory Ready for Moving Day

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Rory McIlroy has a $10million cheque firmly in his sights again with only two rounds of the FedEx Cup play-offs to go.

The 23-year-old world number one sits in seventh at halfway at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, but that would be good enough to scoop the jackpot given who is leading and where his main challengers are.

Jim Furyk, who lifted the huge prize two years ago on the eve of the last Ryder Cup, moved out in front at East Lake by going to the turn in a spectacular 29 and handing in a 64.

But McIlroy, whose 68 was his 10th successive sub-70 score, would not mind Furyk winning the event on Sunday as long as he maintains his position and Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney do not come storming through.
Happy

That quartet all came into the final week of the plays-off knowing the £6million would be theirs if they won the tournament, but Woods fell from joint first to 12th on Friday with an error-ridden 73, Snedeker is 10th, Mickelson 16th and Watney last of the 30 players.

McIlroy, whose long-term commitment to the PGA Tour looks even more certain with his decision to put his £2million home in Northern Ireland up for sale, said: "I'm happy with the position I'm in. First and foremost I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really about anything else.

"If it comes down to it where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, if I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedEx Cup or trying to win the tournament, I think I know what I'm going to choose.

"But we just have to play until we reach that point and at the minute, I'm just concentrating on trying to play as well as I can.

"I was sort of in a similar position in '09 battling Lee Westwood (for the European Tour money list title).

"I went in with not much of a lead, but he ended up winning the tournament, I finished third and he won.

"Here there is a little more to play for, but it's been great.

"It's just nice to be a part of those five guys that sort of control their own destiny."

On his house sale McIlroy added: "I'm only spending about two weeks a year back home, so from a financial point of view it didn't make sense to keep it.

"I'm travelling all over the world, I don't have a full-time base over here (in America) and don't think I will for a while."

On many of his weeks off McIlroy travels to see Danish girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, the former tennis world number one, and he added: "Hopefully when I go home Mum and Dad will have a room for me!"

Despite being off the pace Woods is not ready to give in just yet.

He said: "I'm still right there. This is a golf course that is playing tough. But some of the pins are pretty accessible.

"It's imperative to get the ball on the fairway, and from there, can you attack.

"I figured something out on the back nine with my stroke, which was good. But I still need to hit the ball better than I did today, for sure."




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Dunbar Survives School Seven Scare

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Alan Dunbar survived a remarkable collapse over the closing seven holes at Wychwood Park to squeeze through to the second stage of the European Tour qualifying competition.

Rathmore's British Amateur champion appeared to be coasting as he rounded the turn on the Cheshire course only to go into meltdown with five bogeys and a double bogey from the 12th hole onwards.

Fortunately, his final-round 77 saw him tie for 20th place on five-over-par, two shots inside the cut. 

In all, five Irishmen progressed, with Waterville's David Higgins the best finisher in joint second after a level-par 72.

Barrie Trainor fired a 72 to ease into the second qualifying stage in November, ending the tournament in a tie for fourth, while Cian Curley (73) and Jonathan Caldwell (75) finished on two-over for a share of 11th.

Bushfoot's David Jones and Old Conna's Donal Gleeson won't be going any further, with Jones missing out by just one shot.

At Fleesensee in Germany, Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney carded five birdies in a three-under 69 to book his place, but Stephen Grant was off the pace following a final-day 73.

A number of Irish golfers are in action when first stage qualifying continues in France on Tuesday. The group includes Michael Collins, Tim Rice, Cian McNamara and Neil O'Briain



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