Showing posts with label Wentworth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wentworth. Show all posts

5/28/2014

McIlroy Targets More Majors

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Rory McIlroy arrives at The memorial with a new found confidence knowing that a major lurks just around the corner having won the US Open at Congressional in 2011. Then matched it with the Wannamaker Trophy a year later at Kiawah Island, making the visit to Pinehurst in a couple weeks a chance to banish the demons of of last season.
 
Consequently Rory has targeted two major victories this season to make up for his winless year in 2013.

The Northern Irishman keen to make up for lost time following a slump in form last year that saw him fall from world No.1 to outside the top 10.

"My game is really coming back," he said. "I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but last year, so I'll try to make up for that with two this year."

McIlroy's victory at Wentworth, just days after announcing his break-up to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, surprised even the man himself. But now, he admits, it is time to look forward.

"I knew I was playing well going into the BMW," he said. "I'd finished in the top 10 four times in a row just before this - including the Masters and at Sawgrass - so I knew I wasn't far off my best.

"Top 10s are great but not what I'm looking for.

"The last couple of years I came to Wentworth struggling with my game and getting frustrated. So going there in good form, I was excited.

"Winning does my confidence the world of good, knowing that I can get the job done under pressure and when I need to. That was the most pleasing thing about the win.

"The win in Australia at the end of last year stopped all the questions about reasons behind my form, such as equipment and all that stuff.

"This victory, against one of the best fields of the year, just shows my game is back on track again. Hopefully it won't be long before I'm contending in majors again and it validates all the hard work I've put in this past year."

McIlroy's will not have to wait long for his next shot at a major, with the US Open starting at Pinehurst on June 12.

"I've never been there, but I hear there is going to be no rough and that, for a US Open, is going to be very different," he said.

"I don't think it will be a course that suits one player or another. You'll need to be long - but most players these days can get it out there and it'll suit me to get my driver in my hands.

"It's all about the second shot. Obviously the greens are very tricky at Pinehurst with a lot of run-offs and slopes, and you'll have to be very imaginative around them. Some guys will try and bump it into hills and run it up, while others will try and fly it to the top. It's going to be very interesting.

Earlier in the year, McIlroy claimed that golf needs a player to push on and take Tiger Woods' mantle as the dominant player in the game. A comment he stands by.

"I would like to be that guy," he added. "I like to think my win at Wentworth is a springboard to do just that.

"There are still three majors to play this year and a lot of big tournaments to win. Even though we are halfway through the season, I feel like mine is just beginning."



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5/23/2014

Jacklin Offers Rory Best Advice

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Twice major winner Tony Jacklin has urged Rory McIlroy to take a leaf out of world number one Adam Scott's book and keep his own counsel on some of his off-the-course issues.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, 25, has been the centre of attention in this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth since announcing on Wednesday that he was calling off his planned wedding to leading Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.

The couple played out their two-and-a-half year relationship in the glare of the worldwide media spotlight. Scott, by contrast, got married in secret last month to long-time girlfriend and Swedish architect Marie Kojzar.

The Australian said it was such a private occasion in the Bahamas that many of the guests did not even know about it in advance.

"Whatever happens to Rory in the future I think he needs to be a bit more like Adam Scott and not let on so much to the outside world," the 69-year-old Jacklin told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

"Maybe he needs to try and keep his private life more private. Hopefully though this is just a bump in the road for him.

"If it's the right decision it's behind him now. He can move on very quickly so it might not be a bad thing."

Jacklin was a similar age to former world number one McIlroy when he captured the attention of the international media by winning the 1969 British Open and 1970 U.S. Open.

One difference between the two men, however, is that the Englishman was immersed in a stable family environment during his early years as a sporting globetrotter, having married Northern Irishwoman Vivien at the age of 21.

Jacklin's home life in the 1960s was similar to that of his contemporaries, golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

"It's a wonderful thing for a golfer to meet someone you are compatible with early in your career," said Jacklin.

"I found Vivien, Jack found Barbara and Gary found Vivienne. We all married very young and it's almost like you get that part of your life out of the way, if you like."I could've just drifted on but when you have the extra responsibility of a wife and family it gives you added impetus to do well. I thought that was a good thing in my day," added Jacklin, Europe's most successful Ryder Cup captain of all time.

"Going back all those years I was something of a loner in golf and you have to be to succeed. I got married at 21 and my wife was my companion, my confidant and my best friend and if Rory is not ready for that, he's not ready, it's as simple as that."

Jacklin's first wife died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in April 1988 and he later married Norwegian Astrid Waagen.

The Englishman said he had a lot of sympathy for the turmoil world number 10 McIlroy had gone through in the past 18 months.

"I just hope Rory is not too affected by all this," said Jacklin who led Europe to two Ryder Cup wins, one tie and one

defeat. "Last year he was criticised for changing his clubs and I suppose he brought attention on to himself.

"He has also had the added factor of relocating to America. You can't be the number one player in the world living in Holywood, Northern Ireland.

"I'm sorry, it just doesn't work that way, so he had to do that," explained Jacklin.

"He's had to make quite a lot of adjustments to his life in a short period of time and every time you step on to the golf course you are always under the microscope so it's not easy for him."

Rory McIlroy made the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth with a second round 71 that left him on five under par.


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10/23/2013

McGinley Delays WildCards

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Paul McGinley has confirmed he will announce his wild card picks for next year's Ryder Cup a day later than scheduled.

The Irishman was originally due to unveil his three captain's selections on Monday, September 2, the day after the final qualifying event - the Italian Open - finishes.

But he has put back the announcement by 24 hours to avoid clashing with the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second of the four FedEx Cup play-off events, which will finish on the Monday.

The delay will also avoid a repeat of the situation in 2010, when Justin Rose and Paul Casey played the final round in Boston shortly after finding out they had been overlooked by Colin Montgomerie for the contest at Celtic Manor.

"With no actual qualification points counting in the Deutsche Bank Championship, I was initially prepared to make my wild card announcement on the Monday - the day after the final counting event, the 2014 Italian Open," McGinley said.

"But I have had a rethink and I now want to delay 24 hours as I realise that some potential members of the team might well be playing in Boston that week.

"Realistically, I think it will have minimal effect, but out of respect for any players involved, I want to allow them to finish that tournament before I call them with news, one way or another."

The decision means both teams will announce their wild cards on the same day, with American captain Tom Watson revealing his three selections at a venue yet to be announced.

McGinley will reveal his choices at the European Tour headquarters at Wentworth, which was also the venue when Gleneagles was named as the host venue in 2001.


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