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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Cadillac Ranch for Rory McIlroy

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Rory McIlroy came into the WGC-Cadillac Championship insisting that everything about his game is solid right now, and that his ability to contend rested solely on his mental game.

His mind must be right, because he played a mistake-free third round at Doral on Saturday.

McIlroy made four birdies and no bogeys in the third round on the Blue Monster, his 4-under 68 getting him to 12 under for the week and three shots ahead of Adam Scott and defending champion Dustin Johnson with 18 holes left in the first World Golf Championships event of the season.

"I just played a really solid round of golf," McIlroy said.

A victory would move McIlroy to 13th in the FedExCup standings, up 109 spots from 122nd.

"I think it's Rory's to lose, really," said Danny Willett, who shot 72 and is in a group five shots off the pace. "We're going to have to go out there and play clever and play aggressive when we can, and hopefully we can knock a few birdies off and post a good number."

McIlroy has made nine birdies and nine bogeys or worse in two rounds last week at The Honda Classic, which is why his preparation for Doral could start two days early with a missed cut there.

At Doral, he hasn't been flawless, but close enough. McIlroy's last bogey was on the second hole in his second round.

In 34 holes since, it's been 11 birdies and 23 pars, fueling his climb atop the leaderboard. He took the lead with a birdie at the par-4 fifth, one of only eight made on that hole Saturday. And he escaped brushes with the sand on each of his last two holes, keeping his mistake-free streak intact.

"I've seen Rory play some great golf," Scott said. "I think he's going to be very satisfied with that round. Looked like he was under total control."

McIlroy's tee ball at the par-4 17th found a bunker -- with the wind picking up a bit -- so he simply knocked his second onto the green and two-putted from 45 feet. And his approach from the middle of the fairway on 18 landed in a greenside bunker, but he knocked in a testy 6-footer for par to cap the round.

"My first bogey-free round of the year," McIlroy said. "To do it in a round like this is very pleasing."

Johnson gave himself a chance to end his day with a great par, then missed a 4-footer. After spraying his tee shot way right, Johnson punched out and then knocked a wedge close. But he missed the par try and fell to 9 under for the tournament, 1 under for the round.

Johnson rallied from five shots back in the final round to win last year at Doral. This time, his deficit is only three.

"Anything's possible," Johnson said. "With this golf course, there's trouble on just about every hole, so I just need to go out and keep playing like I'm playing. I feel like I'm playing really well. Today I missed a couple short putts and didn't really hole any putts and still shot 1 under on a tough day. So I'm pleased with that."

Willett, Bubba Watson (71) and Phil Mickelson (70) are tied for fourth, five shots off the lead. World No. 1 Jordan Spieth struggled again, his round of 73 leaving him at 2 under for the week and tied for 17th place.

Spieth played with Justin Thomas, who followed up a 66 on Friday with a 78 on Saturday.

"A rough day for us both," Thomas said.

Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello, had the low rounds Saturday, each shooting 67. They're both at 5 under for the week, tied for seventh place and seven shots back of McIlroy.

Anirban Lahiri, who has never finished better than 28th in four previous WGC stroke-play events, is tied for seventh at 5 under. He shot 71 on Saturday. "This is the third day in a row that we've had a different wind. So honestly, I have no idea what to expect tomorrow," Lahiri said

Five players shot 80, including first-round co-leader Marcus Fraser who is now 20 shots off the lead.

Graeme McDowell carded a third round 70

Shane Lowry finished Saturday in 75 strokes. 

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McIlroy Back in Mix After 65

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Rory McIlroy hailed a "big improvement" in his putting during a superb round of 65 that lifted him into contention in the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

The Northern Irishman has switched to a "crosshanded" putting method after missing the cut at the Honda Classic.

The 26-year-old needed just 25 putts in a seven-under round to go eight under - two shots behind leader Adam Scott.

"I did some work on the putting green last night and it paid off today," said world number three McIlroy.

"It's great to see putts like that go in. Those are the one I have not been holing over the last few months and today I saw a big improvement.

"I saw Adam had got to 10 under so I did not want to be too far behind going into the weekend."

McIlroy carded eight birdies and a bogey in his second round and is tied for second with defending champion Dustin Johnson, who hit a bogey-free 64.

Scott, who last week won his first title in nearly two years, hit a six-under 66 to lead the field.

England's Danny Willett carded a 69 to go fourth on seven under, a stroke ahead of Charley Hoffman (70) and Bubba Watson (69) of the United States and two in front of compatriot Paul Casey (68) and another American, Phil Mickelson (72).

Shane Lowry will have been disappointed to finish with a closing bogey to sign for a 73 and a level par total. Starting on the 10th, he turned in one over but a birdie on the eighth, his 17th, was undone on the par-three ninth.

Graeme McDowell signed for a 71 to his opening 74 to be one over at the halfway stage.

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McIlroy Sunday Roar Fizzles in Caifornia

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Rory McIlroy carded a final round 75 at the Northern Trust Open on Sunday to see his challenged at Riviera Country Club fade as Bubba Watson carded a closing 68 for 15-under-par to claim the title for a second time.

Watson finished one stroke clear of Jason Kokrak and former Masters champion Adam Scott.

Overnight leader Watson had 10 players within three shots of him going into the final round. In 2014, when he last won the LA Open, Watson went on to win the green jacket at Augusta. “To win in a tough way means a lot . . . for me is it is about staying patient,” said Watson, after his ninth PGA Tour win.

Playing in the tournament for the first time McIlroy opened rounds of 67, 69 and 67 and made a real statement of intent on the final day with an opening eagle on the on the Par 5 first.

But McIlroy then signed for seven bogeys – including a run of three successive dropped shots from the 11th – and only salvaged a closing round 75 with a birdie on the 18th.

Adam Scott – who had an electrifying start that included an eagle and three birdies in his first six holes to card a 67 – with Kokrak – chasing a maiden tour win – and Dustin Johnson became the main players in the drama.

Australia’s Marc Leishmann and KJ Choi of South Korea carded 69s to finish tied in fifth place. McIlroy’s tied-20th finishing position was disappointing.

The Holywood man now heads back to the east coast for this week’s Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens and next week’s WGC-Cadillac championship in Doral.

Pádraig Harrington's triple bogey seven on the Par 4 seventh proved very costly as he signed for a closing 75 for two-under-par finish T45th.

Harrington defends his Honda Classic title in Florida this week, where Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell will also be in the field.

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McIlroy Stays in Riviera Hunt

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Rory McIlroy carded a roller-coaster 69 in the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday to sit just four shots off the lead going into the weekend.

Four-times major champion McIlroy, who opened with a 67 on his first PGA Tour start of the year, produced sharply contrasting nines as he mixed five birdies with three bogeys to move up the leaderboard.

"I played the front nine very well, very solid, at three-under par," said McIlroy. "The back nine was a little scrappy.

"A bogey from the middle of the fairway at 13 and then to three-putt 15 ... two unforced errors there. I can't make those going into the weekend if I want to have a chance to win."

Journeyman Jason Kokrak, best known for his power hitting, moved one shot clear after the second round in California as world number one Jordan Spieth missed the cut.

American Kokrak, whose best PGA Tour finish was a tie for second at the 2012 Frys.com Open, charged to the top of the leaderboard with a sparkling seven-under-par 64 on a sun-splashed day at Riviera Country Club.

The 30-year-old racked up eight birdies, including five in his last nine holes, and a lone bogey to post a 10-under total of 132, ending the day a stroke in front of compatriot Chez Reavie.

However, several big names were in close pursuit, including nine-times PGA Tour winner Dustin Johnson, twice Masters champion Bubba Watson and world number three McIlroy.

"You definitely can call upon past experiences," Kokrak, a double winner on the satellite Web.com Tour, told reporters. "I've put myself in that position enough times that I can go out there, stick to my game plan and just hit golf shots.

"I've putted it really well the last four or five rounds out here on tour. That's the biggest key for me. If I putt well, I'm always kind of close to the top-10, top-20."

Watson, who won the 2014 Northern Trust Open and has always relished playing Riviera, made only three birdies on Friday, and would love to see more putts drop over the weekend.

"It was just one of those days, they (putts) just didn't go in," said Watson. "Yesterday all of them went in.

"But the short putts is what I liked today. I didn't miss any inside five feet. And I didn't make any bogeys, so that would be pretty good over the weekend."

The cut fell at level-par 142 with Masters and US Open champion Spieth the biggest name to miss out after adding a 68 to his shocking opening round of 79.

"I can certainly take positives out of today's round," Spieth said after mixing eight birdies with five bogeys. "I'm not going to let this one get to me very much."

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McIlroy and Harrington in Northern Trust

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Rory McIlroy carded a round of 67 in his opening round of the US PGA Tour 2016 at the Northern Trust Open and remains four shots behind the clubhouse leader Camilo Villegas - after play was suspended due to bad light.

McIlroy had arrived on the west coast after working on his game at his Florida base during a week off and he enjoyed a good on the chilly Riviera Country Club in Pacfic Pallisades.

An opening tee shot at the 315-yard short par-four 10th left McIlroy with a tricky pitch from 30 yards, but he would turn it into the first birdie of the day by holing the putt from seven feet.

McIlroy admitted to working on his putting after his spell in the United Arab Emirates and he soon got the measure of the small and tricky Riviera surfaces, almost making an outrageous 73-foot eagle putt on the second before tapping in for a second birdie.

McIlroy was very close to making it three on the the spin at the 12th, made a good par save on the 13th and saw his ball horseshoe out from 25 feet for birdie on the 14th.

Riviera’s fairway bunkers usually exact a toll and McIlroy would drop his only shot of the round after finding the steep face of one on the right of the 15th, forcing him to come up short of the green in three as he carded a bogey five.

Two pars followed before a brilliant wedge to nine feet on the par-five 17th set up a third birdie of the round as he turned in two-under 34.

McIlroy made it a clean sweep of the par fives with a birdie on the first before a run of five pars. Another stunning approach, this time to inside three feet on the par-four seventh, brought a fifth birdie.

Unlucky to just miss out on another gain on the eighth, McIlroy holed a tricky short putt for par on the 18th to compete a fine opening round in the event.

Chez Reavie and Luke List both recorded bogey-free five-under 66s to share the lead with Bubba Watson, who carded seven birdies and two bogeys in his round. McIlroy had company on four under from American Ricky Barnes, Charles Howell III and amateur Charlie Danielson.

Pádraig Harrington was also among the early starters at Riviera, the three-time Major champion trading off two birdies against two bogeys in a level-par 71.

Charl Schwartzel showed no signs of any jetlag or effects of last week’s victory at the Tshwane Open in his native South Africa as he opened with a three-under 68. He was joined on that mark by the Americans Billy Horschel, Jason Kokrak and Harris English, Argentine veteran Angel Cabrera, South Africa’s Retief Goosen and American-based Scot Martin Laird .

England’s Justin Rose was a shot further back on two under, a mark also shared by McIlroy’s playing partners Matsuyama and Kuchar.

McIlroy was delighted to play well in his first competitive round at Riviera, which is consistently ranked by players as one of the top courses on the PGA Tour.

“Put myself out of position a couple of times but the way the conditions of the golf course were, it didn’t punish you as bad as if it would have been as firm as it was the last couple of days,” he said.

“I felt like my pace on the greens was good . . . and I lag-putted well. All of the things that you need to do around this golf course, I did pretty well today.”

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No Californian Dreamin' for Padraig

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Pádraig Harrington signed for a round of 75 at the opening round of the Northern Trust Open in California with five bogeys proving the setback at the Riviera Country Club.

The Dubliner started with birdies on the par-five first and the third hole putting him among the early leaders. His first bogey would come at the par-three fourth before a run of three straight bogeys from the seventh pushed him out to two over.

Back to back dropped shots on the 12th and 13th and a three-putt from 10 feet on the par-five 17th for bogey left Harrington on five over before a closing birdie on the 18th came when he rolled in a 17-foot putt for a three.

Dustin Johnson made six birdies on a warm, sunny day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead Thursday in the Northern Trust Open when the opening round was suspended by darkness.

Jimmy Walker birdied his last three holes and was in the large group at 67 that included Francesco Molinari of Italy and Torrey Pines winner Scott Stallings.

Four days ago, Johnson closed with a 66 in the gray, cold weather of Pebble Beach to finish one shot behind Walker. In conditions that could not have been any different -- and could not have been any better -- he made birdie on all of the par 5s at Riviera and only had one bogey on his card, at the long par-3 fourth.

"It was cold, windy and wet at Pebble on Sunday. Here, it's not a lot of wind and perfect conditions. It's sunny and a really nice temperatures," Johnson said. "It's still golf, though. You've still got to adjust no matter what you're doing."

That was no trouble for Walker, whose victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was his third of the season. He drove his RV down from the Monterey Peninsula, got up at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday to appear on Golf Channel, and then went right back to work.

Walker was in the middle of the pack until his tee shot on the par-3 16th settled just over a foot from the cup. He nearly reached the par-5 17th in two to set up a simple birdie, then finished with one of his best shots -- an 8-iron from 184 yards out of a flyer lie in the rough to the back of the green and a 30-foot putt.

"It's four more days of golf," Walker said. "You can ride the momentum of really good play. But everyone started at even and you just have to be like, `Let's go get it again.'"

It was a glorious day off Sunset Boulevard, and Riviera was in ideal shape -- firm and fast, particularly on the greens.

The warmth meant a little more distance, such as the 349-yard tee shot Johnson hammered down the middle of 13th fairway, a slight dogleg left framed by eucalyptus trees. That left him only 97 yards, and he stuffed it. And on the par-5 17th -- 608 yards up the hill, no help from wind -- he reached it in two and had a two-putt from just over 20 feet. His only glitch was coming up just short of the green and in the bunker on the 225-yard fourth.

Johnson isn't playing a lot this season, but when he does, he plays well.

He already has a win at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He shared the 54-hole lead at Kapalua and tied for sixth, and then took off four weeks before returning at Pebble Beach. That was a good sign for Johnson, who said he doesn't have a good history of playing well in the first event after a long break.

"This time, I stayed with it. I worked hard at home," Johnson said. "It was tough at Pebble because of the weather, and it was hard to keep your concentration."

Life is bliss right now for Walker, who is going for his third win in California this season, starting with the Frys.com Open at CordeValle in October. The only struggle was a bogey on the par-5 11th when his tee shot just missed the fairway and buried in a small indentation in the long grass. He followed that with another bogey on the tough 12th, and then rallied at the end.

"I don't know what it's like for some of those guys that are winning 40 times and they have done this a ton," Walker said. "But right now, enjoy it. It's fun. It's a good place to be."

Jim Furyk, Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler were among those at 68.

Jordan Spieth looked as though he might be among the leaders after holing out from 125 yards for eagle on No. 7 to reach 3 under. He was in position for a birdie on the 11th until leaving a shot in the greenside bunker and missing the par putt. Spieth caught a huge break on the next hole when his tee shot was hooking out-of-bounds until hitting a tree, though he had to scramble for bogey.

He also made three par putts in the 5-foot range to hold it together, but dropped a shot on the 18th when he tried to punch a hybrid around some Eucalyptus trees. He had a 73.

Darren Clarke finished with a 78 in his comeback after injury, and has now withdrawn.

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