McIlory Targets Home Win

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Rory McIlroy has targeted getting back to winning ways on home soil at this week's Irish Open.

McIlroy is looking for his third win in five events after following victory in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play with a third consecutive top-10 finish in the Players Championship, a seven-shot win at Quail Hollow and a missed cut in the BMW PGA Championship last week.

The world No 1 has failed to make it past the second round of the Irish Open for the last two years, but believes he will benefit from a third early exit in four years at Wentworth, where he collapsed to a second round of 78 in the defence of his title.

"I wanted to play well last week but I think at the same time having the weekend off will benefit me for this week," the 26-year-old added. "I do feel refreshed.

"I didn't get out of bed until one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday. I came here on Sunday and played a quiet 18 holes. I came back on Monday morning and played.

"I feel very prepared. That (Wednesday's pro-am) was my third practice round. I haven't played three practice rounds for a tournament since the Masters. I really just want to do well this week and it (missing the cut) has given me a bit of extra time which I think I can use.

"Even if you play four or five weeks in a row, physically you feel fine. It's more just the mental challenge of trying to keep it at that high level the whole time. Sometimes you just need to let yourself come down for a few days. That's what sort of happened. I just couldn't really keep it going."

McIlroy has has revealed he will not make a penny from this week's event, with all money raised being donated to his own charitable foundation, which is hosting this week's tournament at Royal County Down. 

The Rory Foundation's involvement has helped to deliver a top-class field with Players Championship winner Rickie Fowler one of the star attractions. 

Fowler and McIlroy competed against each other in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down and McIlroy added: "It wasn't that hard a pitch to make to Rickie. I knew what a fan he was of the golf course.

"I was very pleased that Rickie and Sergio (Garcia) were in the play-off at the Players a couple of weeks ago; it creates more buzz about this tournament and it was great to see him win."

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It's Good to be Back - GMAC

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Graeme McDowell is delighted to be back playing in Northern Ireland as he prepares for this week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation at Royal County Down.

Royal Portrush became the first course in Northern Ireland to host the Irish Open for 59 years in 2012, and has subsequently been added to The Open Championship roster of courses.

"It's great to be back here," McDowell said. "Obviously Portrush a few years ago (staging the Irish Open in front of record crowds) put Northern Ireland golf on the map from the point of view of what we are capable of and led to things like The Open Championship coming back to Portrush.

“There's something about this golf course that I love. I love the elevation changes. I love the bunkering. It's a much tougher golf course.

"This will be a really, really great showcase I think for golf and Ireland in general.

“I think everyone I've spoken to loves the golf course.

“Rory and his foundation and his team, for him to step up and do what he's done here, taking this event and putting his name to it, I have a huge appreciation for the level of responsibility that that takes. 

“The type of field that he's put together here, we haven't seen a field like this at The Irish Open for many years, since back in its heyday. 

“As an Irish player, we have been really driving hard to try and get sponsors and get a great spot on the schedule to try and bring the best players in the world to Ireland and showcase golf courses like Royal County Down and show people what we have here.

“This is really a huge step in the right direction from what we want The Irish Open to look like.” 

McDowell's sixth place last year was his first top-ten finish in 13 appearances, but the 35 year old believes a more relaxed approach can help to improve that record.

"A lot of that is down to wanting it too badly and wanting to perform for the home fans too much and maybe that expectation level has just been a little too high," McDowell admitted.

"It's been a quiet year and I would love to kick-start my summer off with a big week here. I've been working really hard on my game and I really feel like it's turning the corner."

 

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Illonen Defends Irish Title

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Mikko Ilonen is relishing the opportunity to play in front of what he believes are among the “most knowledgeable golf fans” in the world when the Finn returns to defend his title at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation this week.

The five-time European Tour winner emerged victorious at Fota Island Resort last year to claim what was the first of two wins in The 2014 Race to Dubai.

The 35 year old admitted that he was shocked when he eventually took a step back and assessed the size of the crowds there to witness him overcome Edoardo Molinari by one shot in Cork.

He cannot wait to get back out there and defend his title, over a truly spectacular lay-out in the Northern Irish town of Newcastle which holds a special place in his heart having won here as an amateur.

“It feels good to be back because a lot of people are welcoming me back,” he said. “Obviously I have good memories from the distant past, having won an amateur tournament here in the late 90s and winning The Irish Open last year.

“It's nice to be back here, whether you're defending or not. But I'm a lucky one this week to have that trophy in my hands still another couple of days.

“The best thing coming back to Ireland every year is the crowds. I know all the players, caddies, whoever is part of the tournament, they always tell about the atmosphere in The Irish Open. It doesn't really get much better than that. 

“Well, they are probably the most knowledgeable crowds there are, so doesn't really get any better than that. 

“I didn't realise how many there were last year before I looked back on the 18th green. I think most of the people were hiding somewhere in the bushes before the last couple of holes because I really didn't notice them that much. 

”But of course, I could hear them all the time. But for me looking back on that 18th fairway, I felt a little bit from the green like saying, thank you very much, thanks for coming.”

Much like Clarke and Harrington earlier in the day, Ilonen had particularly strong words of praise for the work World Number One Rory McIlroy put in to make this week’s event such a roaring success.

“It's great what Rory's done,” he said. “He has obviously had a huge impact on the field. He's got a couple of bigger names to come this year, and I think the Irish players are definitely the big factor to keep this tournament what it is now, because they all are big names.

“So they need to keep supporting this event as they have been in the past. It's the key for this tournament, and they are going to take the other names here, as well. 

“We all love coming here. The crowds are the best. It doesn't get much better than this, what we are going to experience this week. So it doesn't need to be a $5 billion tournament. It just needs a good atmosphere, and everybody is going to enjoy the week.”

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