The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Australian PGA

Showing posts with label Australian PGA. Show all posts

12/02/2013

Wizard of Oz Still Number 6

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy remains at No. 6 in the latest Official World Golf Ranking released on Monday and unaffected by his last hole win at the Emirates Australian Open in Sydney. Only 32 world-ranking points were available to the winner at Royal Sydney, so McIlroy remained more than .64 average points behind No. 5 Justin Rose.

Adam Scott moved ever closer to the world No. 1, Tiger Woods, after his blitz through the Australian triple crown.

After wins at the Australian PGA and Australian Masters, followed by a third-place finish at the World Cup and at the Australian Open, Scott is now 1.7 points behind Woods - the closest he has ever been to topping the rankings.

The only movement in the top 10 was No. 10 Jason Day, who swapped places with Jason Dufner after a T-6 finish at the Australian Open.

Charl Schwartzel jumped from No. 21 to No. 18 with his successful defense of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Hideki Matsuyama moved from No. 25 to No. 23 after his victory at the Japan Tour’s Casio World Open.

The rest of the top 10: Woods, Scott, Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, Rose, McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, Brandt Snedeker and Day.

12/01/2013

Rory McIlroy Feels Guilt

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy showed sympathy for Adam Scott after snatching the Australian Open title from under his nose.

Scott was seeking a rare Australian triple crown, after winning the PGA and Masters titles, and he had been in front for just about the whole tournament at Royal Sydney.

But a couple of mistakes at the 72nd hole, combined with a McIlroy birdie, meant the Northern Irishman ended a year-long wait for a title.

He had started the day four strokes behind Scott and led for the only time when he holed his winning putt on the final green, Scott having been in command since opening with a round of 62.

"It's hard not to feel some sort of guilt in the way that I won it," said McIlroy, whose last win was in Dubai in November last year.

"Adam is a phenomenal golfer, a great competitor and probably an even better guy. I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that ruined the triple crown for him but I'm happy and Adam should be proud of himself. He's a credit to the game and to this country.

"It's been a frustrating year but I've worked hard and it's been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments, and it was nice to do that today.

"I just sort of stayed patient, I knew that anything can happen on this golf course, if you just hit it into a tricky spot like Adam did on 18.

"Luckily I was just able to make that putt at the end when I needed it.

"It's a very prestigious tournament and I am honoured to have my name on the trophy. I'm sure there is a lot of proud people who watched that today.

"I think I am more experienced and more patient now. I'm not getting as down on myself or not being as hard on myself because golf is a long career and you can't have too many highs and lows in terms of emotions.

"You've just got to try and keep it on an even keel and I feel like I've done a better job of that this year as the months have gone past.

"You know you have to go through the lows. And I'm not saying it was a low this year, it's not like I plummeted off the face of the earth.

"I'm still sixth in the world so it's not too bad. It's not the level that I feel like I can play to but I feel I'm getting back there, so it's very pleasing."

Happy New Year for Rory

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has denied Adam Scott Australian golf's Triple Crown with a tense and dramatic one-stroke Australian Open victory at Royal Sydney

McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to close with a final-round six-under-par 66 to steal the Stonehaven Cup from Scott, who bogeyed the last after leading the tournament from the first morning on Thursday.

Scott had started the day with a four-stroke buffer and never trailed until making a meal of the 72nd hole of the championship.

After driving into the middle of the fairway, he overcooked his approach then blasted his recovery shot long and was unable to save par.

McIlroy, meanwhile, drained his 15-foot birdie attempt to end a 12-month winless streak for the one-time world No.1.

McIlroy finished at 18-under-par, one ahead of Scott, who closed with a one-under-71.

The former world No 1 made a big move on the seventh with an eagle and drew level with Scott when he birdied the eighth.

Scott edged ahead again but made a series of mistakes down the stretch, leaving McIlroy the chance to stay in touch.

And he made a club selection error at the last, hitting his approach way over the green and failing to make par, leaving McIlroy with the chance to win a second Australian Open, a chance he took with aplomb.

"I am gutted, I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Australian Open," Scott said. "It was going to be a tough day, Rory made his move and I just couldn't get my putts in."

"Adam congratulated me on the green. It was hard not to feel some guilt in the way that I won it," said McIlroy.

"To be able to play your best golf when you need to, when you're under pressure, you can't ask for more. The perfect scenario was to achieve a win before the end of the season and thankfully I have done that."

11/27/2013

Rory Seeks Last Chance

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy admits he is looking forward to taking a break from golf following the World Challenge in early December, describing 2013 as 'a mentally draining year.'

The world no 6 from Ireland is without a victory in over 12 months and has two more chances to break his duck during the current calendar year.

This week the Ulsterman is taking part in the Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club, followed by a trip to California for the Tiger Woods-hosted event at Thousand Oaks in Los Angeles.

In 2012, McIlroy won four of his last nine events - and five times in all - while this year he has only posted a brace of top-three finishes - in Texas and Korea.

McIlroy also said: "I'm looking forward to a break after playing Tiger's event next week as it's been a long year mentally for me rather than physically.

"Physically, golf doesn't take that much out of you but mentally it is quite draining.

"And especially for me this year not just being frustrated with my game but having to answer all the questions and come up with reasons why I am not playing well and all that stuff.

"But then it's great to be going into the off-season feeling comfortable with my game and knowing that I am on the right track and knowing that I can start the new season strongly.

"So I am excited about that aspect and besides I still have two tournaments left this year and I would love to get a win, whether it is here or in Tiger's event in LA."

Also teeing up this week is world No 2 Adam Scott who is hoping to become only the second golfer in history to capture the Australian Triple Crown.

Scott has already landed the Masters and PGA titles during the past few weeks and is now focussing his attentions on seeking victory in the Open, a feat only previously achieved by Robert Allenby eight years ago.

The 33-year-old Australian is enjoying a momentous year, after being the first Aussie to wear the Green Jacket at Augusta National back in April.

He said: "I caught up with Rob last night at the function and asked for some advice on how to go about it but he didn't offer any up.

"But it's the Australian Open, it's the last week of the year for me, so I want to finish big."

11/26/2013

McIlroy Meets Hollywood Anchor

Rory McIlroy wasn't the only celebrity on his flight to Australia for this week's Emirates Australian Open. Will Ferrell was sitting across from McIlroy, heading Down Under for the premiere of "Anchorman 2." The chance meeting resulted in McIlroy being invited to the film's premiere.

"It was very funny. Obviously, I think everyone loved the first 'Anchorman,' and the second was just as good," McIlroy said. "It was great to be a part of it last night and be invited and see it for the first time. The flight over, all the crew were over on the flight as well, but we were all very tired so most of us just put our heads down and got straight to sleep. It was great to meet all the crew, and obviously a big fan of Will Ferrell and Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, and a few of the other guys who are part of the cast."

McIlroy, No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, is playing his first tournament in Australia since 2007.

The Holywood golfer arrives after consecutive top-10s, a T-6 at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship-Dubai. It's the first time he's had back-to-back top-10s since the Wells Fargo Championship (T-10) and THE PLAYERS Championship (T-8) in May.

"The game is good. It feels good. The last couple tournaments have been much better. I've played well. A little disappointed with how I've finished, but ... it's good to be back in Australia," he said.

11/20/2013

Royal Sydney for McIlroy

Getty Images

Adam Scott will be aiming to complete his Triple Crown at Royal Sydney with World Number 6 Rory McIlroy and World Number 20 Jason Day heading the players to halt Scott’s charge and take the title from defending champion Peter Senior.

Amercan Kevin Streelman and Australians Matt Jones, Stuart Appleby and Marcus Fraser are the latest players to confirm their places at next week’s Emirates Australian Open at The Royal Sydney Golf Club.

World Number 43 Streelman won the 2013 Tampa Bay Championship on the PGA Tour among five top-10 finishes this season.

Sydney-born Jones has had a breakout year on the PGA Tour with five top-10 finishes including a tie for second at the Greenbrier Classic.

Appleby, the 2001 Australian Open champion, joins compatriot Fraser who is hunting his first Stonehaven Cup following a tie for second at The Ballatine’s Championship in Korea earlier this year.

The Emirates Australian Open will host the strongest field of Australian players this summer with John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Robert Allenby, Nick O’Hern, Scott Gardiner, Cameron Percy, Craig Parry and Rod Pampling all joining Scott, Day, Fraser, Jones, Appleby and Senior in the final tournament of the PGA Tour of Australasia 2013 season.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said: “It’s a very special year for Australian golf and it’s great to see Sydney host this world-class event. Visitors coming to the Australian Open Golf in Sydney are in for a real treat to indulge in their golfing passion.

"The NSW Government remains committed to the long term vision of showcasing the historic Australian Open and highlighting Sydney and NSW’s stunning, world-class golf courses to the world.”

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said there was tremendous depth in the field and the fans were in for a sensational week as Adam Scott aims for the triple crown.

“Wherever you are, if you can get to Royal Sydney Golf Club next week, you’re in for a fantastic four days of golf action as the Adam Scott hype reaches fever pitch,” Pitt said.

“The strength in this field is its depth and the international flavour.

"While we’ll all be cheering Adam on to the triple crown, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and the multitude of leading Australian players will all have their own plans for the Stonehaven Cup."

Adding to the week’s excitement will be the introduction of The Open Qualifying Series – Australia with the top three players not already exempt earning their place at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) in July 2014.

“This adds further prestige to Australia’s most coveted title and gives our competitors a wonderful opportunity to earn direct qualification into golf’s oldest Major,” Pitt said.

The Championship is owned by Golf Australia and is managed by World Sport Group in conjunction with the PGA of Australia, with the assistance of TRP Sports.

8/15/2013

Rory Confirms Trip Downunder

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has revealed he will end his season contesting the Australian Open in Sydney.

McIlroy confirmed his appearance after finishing in a share of eighth place in the defence of his PGA Championship title at Oak Hill.

The Australian Open will be staged at the Royal Sydney course from November 28 to December 1.

"It is pretty much locked in place I will be playing the Australian Open in Sydney," he said.

"It's been a couple of years since I last competed in an Australian Open. I competed in 2006 when I was still an amateur and then a year later after just turning pro.

"Both were in Sydney and I've always enjoyed myself in Sydney so I am very much looking forward to returning to Royal Sydney."

On his last Australian Open appearance in 2007 McIlroy finished well down the field in a share of 59th with scores of 74, 74, 76 and 77.

McIlroy is no stranger to the 2000 Olympic Games host city as earlier this year his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki contested the Sydney International and the pair were photographed atop Sydney Tower. McIlroy has the photograph on his Twitter page.

There had been suggestions McIlroy was all set to compete in last year's Australian Open for a reported $1 million appearance fee.

However, both Golf Australia and his Dublin-based Horizon Sports manager, Conor Ridge, denied the rumour.

But while McIlroy has not tasted success since then he was still expected to command the million-dollar appearance fee to tee up on the Royal Sydney course.

McIlroy said he has also accepted an invitation a week later to play in the Tiger Woods hosted World Challenge from December 5-8 at the Sherwood Country Club course in suburban Los Angeles.

"It will be a great two weeks to finish up my year so I'm looking forward to competing in both events," he said.

McIlroy admitted after his best finish this year in the Majors he had left the Rochester course with the same feelings experienced last year in Ohio in finishing eighth in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational a week before capturing a second Major Championship victory.

"I feel just like I did in leaving the Bridgestone last year as my game is pretty much in great shape.

"There's still enough golf ahead of me this year to turn it into very good year," he said.

"I have four very big weeks coming up to try and finish off the PGA Tour season well.

"I've also got a few events out in Asia, the Australian Open and Tiger's event so I've got plenty of opportunity to round off my year on a good note."

12/02/2013

Related articles

12/01/2013

Related articles

Related articles

11/27/2013

Related articles

11/26/2013

Related articles

11/20/2013

Related articles

8/15/2013

Related articles