Rory Relishes Willett Master Battle

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Rory McIlroy is relishing another battle against Danny Willett after the Race to Dubai champion and the Masters Tournament champion stole the show on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation.

Willett pushed McIlroy all the way to the final day of last season before the Northern Irishman finished as Europe's Number One for the second consecutive year with his victory at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

In 2016 it has been the Englishman who has stolen a march, with a first Major Championship victory at Augusta added to his win at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to give Willett a lead over McIlroy of over a million points in the season-long battle.

The 28 year old also took the upper hand on Thursday, establishing a two-shot lead over McIlroy at the K Club, and the four-time Major winner is hopeful the two can continue to duel it out over the weekend.

"It's a great day one," said McIlroy. "Hopefully it entices people to come out and watch the golf over the next three days.

Having Danny here is a huge help, and him playing like he did today, and me playing like I did, it would be great if we could have a battle over the weekend and get the crowds to flock in - Rory McIlroy

"It would be one that I'd be looking forward to."

A victory for McIlroy would be his first at his home Open after missing the cut the last three seasons, and he admits he is excited by the thought of getting his hands on the trophy.

"I just get goosebumps thinking about it, so I can't really think about it too much now," he added.

"To win here, no matter what the circumstances are, whether I've won the week before or whether I haven't won in six months, to win The Irish Open would be something that would be very special, and I've got off to a great start towards doing that this week. I just have to keep playing the way I did today.

"It's a big thing, especially with how I've played here the last few years, it's been very disappointing.

"It's day one. There's a lot of golf to play but it's a very encouraging start.

"I think there was more out there. I thought it was a very comfortable 67. Get to go five under par after 13 with a couple of par fives to come in, had a bit of a blip on 14 with a three-putt. But apart from that, I felt like I played pretty well.

"It was nice to get an opening round like that and get a score like that under my belt, because I know what's out there now. I know if I go out and play well and the conditions are similar that I can go even better than that."

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Course View - Old Head

Old Head Golf Links is built on a 220-acre diamond of land, jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoilt cliff (rising in places to over 300 feet) frame the course.

Designed and constructed by a unique team, Ron Kirby - former designer at Jack Nicklaus’s Golf Design Services, Paddy Merrigan - Australian course architect and agronomist, Liam Higgins - one of Ireland’s best known golf professionals currently on the Seniors Tour, the late Eddie Hackett - former Irish golf professional and golf course designer, the late Dr. Joe Carr - Ireland’s most successful international amateur golfer and finally, Haulie O’Shea – building contractor.

Old Head, par 72, comprises five Par 5s, five Par 3s and eight Par 4s – stretching to over 7,200 yards from the tips, with a minimum of six tees per hole. Nine holes play along the cliff tops, and all eighteen holes provide stunning ocean views. With the ever-changing sea breezes, the course provides a stern test to the touring pro and the high handicapper alike. 

Old Head Golf Links is designed as a walking course where Members and Guests are encouraged to walk the links with a Caddie. Old Head boasts one of the largest group of professional Caddies in the country, with approximately 160 Caddies working at the Club throughout the season. 

The Old Head Caddie Programme is among one of the most extensive and professional worldwide. 

Course Tour

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Lowry Graced with PGA Card

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Shane Lowry and Branden Grace have accepted special temporary membership of the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2015 season.

The European Tour regulars, along with Australian youngster Cameron Smith, secured the privilege courtesy of their high finishes in the US Open at Chambers Bay.

Irishman Lowry finished in a tie for ninth, five places behind South African Grace, who went into the final day in a tie for the lead but finished the tournament fourth after closing with a one-over 71.

They have all earned more non-member FedEx Cup points than the total of the player who finished 150th on the list in 2014.

England's Danny Willett and up and coming United States player Patrick Rodgers also secured invites in similar fashion earlier in the season.

They are now eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the Tour season as they attempt to earn 2015-16 cards through the non-member money list or non-member FedExCup points list.

Special temporary members are not eligible for the FedExCup play-offs, but they can become regular PGA Tour members by winning an official event during the season and would then have their FedExCup points counted and be eligible for post-season play.

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Faldo Feels McIlroy Retains Focus

Photo @AP

Sir Nick Faldo feels the return of Tiger Woods to this year’s Masters will not distract Rory McIlroy from his Grand Slam target.

World No 1 McIlroy requires an Augusta win to complete victories in all four majors, a feat which has been achieved by just five players in the Masters era.

One of the names in that particular hall of fame is Tiger Woods, who has dropped out of the top 100 in the rankings this year and shot a career-worst 82 in his second and most recent event of 2015.

Woods, though, will seek to revitalise his career at the Masters this week, a decision which has attracted a large amount of media coverage.

But Faldo is confident McIlroy’s focus will be firmly on the tournament.

“Everyone knows that he (Woods) is just coming back just to play well,” Faldo, who won the Masters in 1989, 1990 and 1996, told Sky Sports. “It is amazing that someone who had total domination is now in a position where he just wants that.

“Rory has been on this mission ever since the PGA (Championship) last year. He’s spoken about it in interviews that he wants the Masters to complete the Grand Slam.

“So, no, I think he will have prepared well and will be on countdown to the first tee on Thursday now.”

Faldo was both an inspiration and a direct coaching mentor for McIlroy as a youngster and the two shared many fairways during the latter’s formative years.

The master feels the missing ingredient in his apprentice’s game then – and one which has now been discovered – was the ‘X factor’.

“I’ve known Rory since he was 12 and I spent some time with him then; he had the swing and everything but he didn’t have the X factor,” he said.

“I played a practice round with him at Carnoustie in the pouring rain and I was wimping out and he produced a wonderful swing in full waterproofs. I thought, ‘this guy’s good’.

“He is phenomenal. To win four majors at his age, 25, is incredible.”

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Harrington Masters Hard Yardage

Photo @padraig_h 

Padraig Harrington has shared a picture from his yardage book for Augusta National.

Answers on a postcard please.....

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McIlroy Needs Master Woods - McGinley

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Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy could benefit from Tiger Woods featuring at The Masters.

McIlroy can become just sixth player to complete the Grand Slam of all four major titles with victory at Augusta next month, joining Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.

Woods is without a major since the 2008 US Open and hasn’t claimed a green jacket for a decade, but the now world No 87 is still ‘hopeful’ of featuring in the tournament he has previously won four times.

While attention is currently on the Northern Irishman, McGinley, who will be part of Sky Sports’ commentary team at Augusta, knows the focus surrounding Woods’ current struggles would make life easier for McIlroy next month.

"Look what happened at the US PGA last year, all the talk was 'is Tiger going to play, is he not going to play?',” McGinley said. "At the time Rory was favourite, but all the expectation, all the talk, all you guys (the media) were focused on was Tiger.

"Rory didn't sneak in the back door, but he was able to go about his business without the attention on him. I do hope Tiger comes back, we all hope Tiger comes back. I don't know if he will or not, we'll have to wait and see."

The 14-time major winner has made just two starts on the PGA Tour this year, missing the cut at the Phoenix Open after a career-worst 82 before withdrawing just 11 holes in to the Farmers Insurance Open.

With injury adding to Woods’ shocking short-game woes, the 39-year-old said he was taking time out from the sport in order to work on his game and will also miss this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, a venue where he has won eight times.

"When you see a guy who was as great with the chipping as Tiger was, is he going to come back from it? We really don't know," McGinley added.

"My hunch would be there's something bigger going on. There's no doubt Tiger has peaked in terms of when guys normally play their best golf. That doesn't mean he's finished, but certainly he is in the back nine of his career."

Defending champion Bubba Watson believes that there is no pressure on him to retain his title at Augusta National, where victory would make him only the fourth player defend his Masters crown.

Watson, who is eyeing a third Green Jacket after also winning in 2012, told reporters: "Obviously, I think he (McIlroy) would have more pressure than me, because look at the talent he has and the records he could beat when he gets older."

"He's got years, he's got his whole life to try to win the Masters, but obviously ... he's going to put pressure on himself."

Woods’ place as the face of golf on EA Sports’ PGA Tour video games has come to an end after 17 years, with McIlroy now featuring on its cover.

The "Rory McIlroy PGA Tour" will be released in June, with the Northern Irishman saying in a statement he was “very proud and humbled” to be used for the game.

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McGinley Expects Rory Tiger Battle

Paul McGinley believes a head-to-head battle between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods over the next year would be "great for our sport".

McIlroy soared to the top of the world rankings after winning two majors in 2014 while Woods spent most of the year on the sidelines following back surgery.

Woods returned to action last month as he hosted the Hero World Challenge in Florida armed with a "new, old swing" constructed under the watchful eye of biomechanics coach Chris Como.

The 39-year-old was generally consistent from tee to green, but his short-game was in disarray as he finished last in the elite 18-man field - 26 shots behind runaway winner Jordan Spieth.

"Rivalries are what sport is built on. For somebody to rise up this year and have a real head-to-head battle with Rory would be great for our sport"

But McGinley expects a healthy Woods to climb back up the world rankings this year, and the victorious Ryder Cup captain hopes to see a number of showdowns between the 14-time major champion and McIlroy.

"I saw Tiger play in his tournament and the one thing that was very clear, and speaking to some of the guys that have played with him recently too, is that he's got his distance back," McGinley told Reuters.

"If you are playing at the top level in professional golf now you've got to be hitting the ball a long way. Rory has got that, he's one of the longest hitters in the world, and it looks like Tiger has got that back. That's going to be a big asset for him.

"Rivalries are what sport is built on. For somebody to rise up this year and have a real head-to-head battle with Rory would be great for our sport."

Woods has attracted many critics over the last few years for his on-course behaviour as well as his infamous off-course transgressions, but McGinley admits he remains the star attraction every time he tees up.

"Tiger is one of those guys that moves the needle in so many ways," added McGinley. "Not everybody is a fan of Tiger and some people like to see him doing badly so he moves the needle one way or the other.

"On the other side it's been seven years since he won a major championship. There's pressure on him to reach Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins and it'll be interesting to see how competitive he is this year.

Back in the swing

"If he gets into contention at a major, will he be able to follow through and win? He's made changes, he has gone back to trying to find the golf swing he used as a young boy and a swing that comes natural to him.

"It's very difficult to do what Tiger has done. Very few players have done that. Nick Faldo did it and Padraig Harrington did it, completely ripping apart their swings, putting it back together and still being successful.

"Tiger has gone backwards and it will be interesting to see if he can use that to go forwards and use it as a base to win major championships again."

But McGinley also expects McIlroy to add significantly to his tally of four major crowns, and he believes the Northern Irishman will be tough to dislodge at the top of the world rankings.

He said: "There are a lot more wins in Rory yet. He's incredibly talented, he's proved himself at the very top level and he's the undisputed No 1 player in the world."

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