McIlroy Ready to Defend Dell Title

Rory McIlroy is prepared to scrap his way through the rounds at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship as he prepares to defend the title he won 12 months ago.

The Northern Irishman was taken to the 20th hole by Billy Horschel during the group stage and needed four extra holes to overcome Paul Casey in the quarter-finals before emerging victorious at TPC Harding Park.

This year’s event has switched from San Francisco to Austin Country Club in Texas, and the World Number Three is happy to go the distance once more – as long as he wins.

“I think definitely it prepares you more for the final,” McIlroy said after being drawn alongside Smylie Kaufman, Kevin Na and Thorbjørn Olesen in the group stage.

“It makes the final that little bit easier, because you've faced scenarios. 

“Whether you've had to birdie the last two holes to win or win in extra holes, I think those experiences serve you well.

“It's a bit like in the early stages of a Grand Slam tennis tournament - if you see a Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal or Novak [Djokovic], taken to four or five sets, it's almost like it's good for them to take that experience and be challenged.”

McIlroy is looking forward to the format switch, with the 64 players drawn into groups of four and the 16 winners progressing to the weekend’s knock-out stages.

“It's about playing the player that's in front of you there on the first tee,” said the 26 year old.

“It's a sprint; it's 18 holes; you don't really have time to find your rhythm. 

“You need to try to make birdies from the get-go, and that's the approach I've adopted the last few years. 

“Kevin I've played before in this event, back in Arizona, and he's playing very well. He's had a great year. 

“Thorbjorn is a good friend of mine. I've known him for a long time playing The European Tour - we've got a little bit of history. 

“Smylie, I really don't know that much about. I know that he got off to a great start in his PGA Tour career. No matter who you draw in this event, you know you're going to get a tough match.”

As well as trying to win a third World Golf Championships title, McIlroy believes there is a chance to land some early psychological blows ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup.

Darren Clarke’s team will face the US at Hazeltine at the end of September, and McIlroy believes that will add an extra incentive to any European-American showdowns this week.

He added: “I feel if there is a head-to-head between a European and an American, whoever gets the upper hand in this event, maybe just some psychological advantage going into the Ryder Cup. Maybe that will happen this week.”

Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell are also in the field in Austin.

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McIlroy Fails to Tame Blue Monster

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Rory McIlroy refused to blame his new putting technique for a disappointing opening round in the WGC-Cadillac Championship after the new approach initially promised to pay instant dividends.

After missing the cut in the Honda Classic last week, McIlroy changed to a “crosshanded” putting method – with his left hand below the right on the grip – and vowed to stick with it regardless of the short-term outcome, with his bid to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters just five weeks away.

The early signs were promising as McIlroy carded five birdies in his first 10 holes on the famed ‘Blue Monster’ course alongside world number one Jordan Spieth and US PGA champion Jason Day.

But the 26-year-old then three-putted the eighth – his penultimate hole – for par and found water with his tee shot on the ninth, the resulting double bogey meaning he had to settle for an opening 71, five shots behind clubhouse leaders Marcus Fraser and Scott Piercy.

McIlroy had jokingly threatened to throw his putter in the water on the eighth, a reference to last year’s incident when his three iron was despatched to a watery grave on the same hole in frustration at an errant shot.

“One club in the water here is enough, I think,” the Northern Irishman joked.

Asked about taking 33 putts and holing just one outside 10 feet (a 14-footer on the 17th), McIlroy told reporters: “My speed wasn’t too good on the greens. I was leaving a lot of putts short.

“But I guess that’s to be expected. It’s the first day competitively with a bit of a new grip. But I felt like it was pretty good.”

Piercy was seven under par after 11 holes but eventually carded a 66 after a bogey on the last when his ball plugged in a grass bank on the edge of a lake, while Fraser also reached seven under before dropping his only shot of the day on the eighth.

It was nevertheless a superb effort from the 37-year-old Australian, who won in Malaysia a fortnight ago and was 15th in the Perth International last week before making the 11,000-mile journey to Miami.

Phil Mickelson, who has not won since claiming his fifth Major title in the 2013 British Open at Muirfield, was a shot off the lead, with Danny Willett, Jason Dufner, Charley Hoffman and Honda Classic winner Adam Scott all on four under.

“I hit a lot of good shots, I was really pleased with the way the round went,” Mickelson told Sky Sports. “I probably let a few shots go early on, but I hit a lot of good shots, I was patient with the round and on my second nine I was able to make some birdies and capitalise on some of the shots.”

Spieth carded five birdies and two bogeys to finish three under, with world number two Day faring the worst of the marquee group with a level-par 72.

Asked about playing alongside Day and McIlroy, Spieth said: “We had fun and for a while there were feeding off each other, turning in two, two and three under.

“It was nice to try and get into a rhythm together because the last few weeks have been a little rough on all three of us.

“I’ve been doing quite a bit of work. I don’t feel great about the way I am striking the ball. I’m working really hard trying to develop patience through my swing and get into my right side. I have been transitioning a little quick and that leads to a shorter swing and more inconsistent ball striking.”

Shane Lowry recovered from two bogeys in his opening seven holes to turn his round around and sign for a round of 71. 

Although he suffered a bogey on the 11th after his tee shot found the left rough, Lowry’s approach play on the 17th – where he was left with a tap-in – brought him back to one under and a safe par on the treacherous 18th.

Graeme McDowell shot an opening 74 with a lot of ground to make up on Friday.

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Leona Maguire Makes Strong Start

Leona Maguire that she was talking of the chances that slipped by after opening with a three-under 69 in the first round of the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters.

Playing on a sponsor’s invite, the 20-year-old from Cavan hit 16 greens in her opening round at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club near London, carding four birdies and a single bogey for a place in the clubhouse top 10.

The Duke University golfer made the brightest of starts with a birdie at the par-five 10th before successive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes got her to three under early in her round.
Four straight pars saw her to the turn in 33 strokes and the consistency in her play saw her continue her back nine with another five pars from the first.

She got to four under with a birdie three at the par-four sixth before giving up her only shot to par of the round with a bogey five at the eighth to finish on three under, three shots behind France’s Sophie Giquel-Bettan, who carded a 66.

“I’m really happy because I got off to a great start and made a few birdies in the first few holes, so I was three under though nine,” said Maguire.

“I had quite a few chances on the back nine but a few putts didn’t drop. I hit 16 greens, so it was pretty steady. I birdied a couple of the par fives and hit all the ones on the back nine, starting on the 10th.”

Maguire’s only bogey came on her penultimate hole, which at 425 yards was the longest of the par-fours.

“I made a bogey on eight after hitting a good drive but my second was left of the green in the hay so I had to hack at it to get on the green and then had two putts from there so it was a good bogey really, because the pin was long and the hole was playing tricky,” added Maguire.

“I’d have taken a three under going out this morning and it’s a good score. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

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Selfridge Wins Cathedral Eye

Chris Selfridge won the Cathedral Eye Clinic North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush in Saturday’s final defeating Gary Hurley by 2 and 1.

“I was sick on the days leading up to the championship and was on the point of withdrawing but then decided to give it a go. I really wanted to play in the event and my coach, Johnny Foster, wanted me to play, even if I was sick.

“Johnny told me that he had a real good feeling that I could do well at the North this year,” revealed Selfridge.

Foster’s feeling proved spot on, as Selfridge eased through the matchplay field after qualifying on the cut-off mark.

“I did feel a bit under pressure as Gary (Hurley) got off to a good start but I had faith in my own ability so I just told myself to stay patient. I knew I had it in me to win,” stressed the Moyola Park player.

Maynooth undergraduate Hurley (20) stormed off by winning the first hole when Selfridge missed from five feet, but the new champion’s touch on the greens was back in evidence when he rolled in a 20-footer at the fourth hole for the first of his five birdies to level the match.

The next four holes were halved before Selfridge got his nose in front at the ninth to turn one up. He was three feet from the pin and when Hurley missed par from four feet he conceded his opponent’s putt.

It was back to square at 10, however, when Hurley rolled a 60-foot downhill putt to three feet and Selfridge, after sending his 20-footer four feet past, missed the return. At the 12th hole, Selfridge slotted in a birdie three from 25 feet and Hurley missed from five.

Toledo-based Selfridge went two up at 15 as Hurley was in rough twice and also in bunker trouble.

The match ended two holes later. Hurley was pin high right with a fairway wood as Selfridge was 80 yards short with a six Iron but steered his third approach to six inches. Hurley needed to hole his chip for eagle to keep the match alive but he missed on the right and the Moyola man was champion.

“I made five birdies and two bogeys which wasn’t bad for a final and I was well under par all week. I’m delighted,” enthused the new champion.

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Meadow Tames Ballybunion

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Stephanie Meadow battled the wind and rain at Ballybunion to lead the qualifiers into the match play stage of the Irish women's close championship.

The 21-year-old 2012 British Ladies champion, and star member of the Alabama University team, fired a six- under-par 67 in her second round on one of Ireland's toughest links courses.

That gave her a 36-hole aggregate of 139, all of 10 strokes fewer than Slieve Russell teenager Leona Maguire, who beat her in last year's Irish final. 

Leona's twin sister Lisa had a disastrous opening round of 86, but a second-round 77 for an aggregate of 163 gave Lisa a spot among the 32 qualifiers.

Maria Dunne, who was disqualified from last week's British Amateur Open for using a distance-measuring device, also made it through.