The Irish Golf Club Gazette

4/10/2013

Tiger Reckons Rory's Masters Rival

Getty Images

World No 1 Tiger Woods believes Rory McIlroy is becoming his strongest rival ahead of the 77th Masters Tournament in Augusta.

Woods will be chasing a fifth Green Jacket when he tees up alongside Luke Donald and Scott Piercy in the opening round on Thursday.

McIlroy was keen to play down any talk of a rivalry between the two but Woods, who reclaimed top spot in the rankings from the Northern Irishman in March, had no such reservations.

"I think that over the course of my career, I've had a few (rivals). Certainly Rory is this generation's," the 14-time major-winner said.

"I've had Phil (Mickelson) and Vijay (Singh) and Ernie (Els) and David (Duval) for a number of years, and now Rory's leading this new, younger generation."

McIlroy has won two majors in the last two years and is widely regarded as Woods' successor as the world's premier golf star, but the 23-year-old believes he does not quite measure up yet.

Even though he is now back on top of the rankings, Woods has been stuck on 14 majors since winning the US Open in 2008, since when his career has been disrupted by injuries, loss of form and well-publicised personal issues.

Changes

Swing changes made to protect his injury-prone left knee under the guidance of Sean Foley have paid off with three wins already this season and he goes into the Masters as the man to beat.

Woods turned 37 at the end of last year but insists he is still as focused as ever breaking Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles.

"I would like to be able to get to that point. It took Jack a while to get to 18, all the way until he was 46 years old. So there's plenty of opportunities for me," he said.

"I put myself in the mix here every year but last year, it's not like I've been out of there with no chance of winning this championship."

Woods added: "I've been there and unfortunately just haven't got it done. I've made runs to get myself in it. I've been there in the mix on the back nine, either not executed, not made enough putts or didn't take care of the par fives or whatever it may be.

"But the whole idea is to give myself opportunities and, as of right now, I'm tied for second on the all-time win list here - he and Arnold Palmer have four, Nicklaus won six - so that's not too bad, either.

"That's one of the neat things about our career, it's so long. We have an opportunity to play basically 30 years solidly at a high level. We have very expansive careers and I feel like I'm basically right in the middle of mine. I have a lot of good years ahead of me and I'm excited about this week.

4/09/2013

McIlroy Targets Green Jacket

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy says talk of a huge rivalry with Nike stable mate Tiger Woods is premature as they prepare for the Masters at Augusta.

McIlroy says those trying to talk up a battle between him and the world No 1 need only take a look at their respective records to prove his point.

"I don't see myself a rival to Tiger or to anyone," he said. "Tiger obviously has been on tour, for, what, 12 more years than me or something like that.

"When you speak of rivals, you tend to put rivals who have had similar success. He's got 77 PGA Tour events (wins); I've got six.

"He's got 14 majors; I've got two. If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn't really be doing him much justice."

But McIlroy admits he is feeling far happier heading into Augusta than he has for most of the season, first down to a change of clubs and then serious pain from his wisdom teeth.

Comfortable

He bounced back to form last week with a second placed finish in the Texas Open and believes his breaking-in period with his clubs is now complete, just in time for the first major championship of the season.

"I'm very comfortable and I'm 100 percent there," he said. "I wanted to do it all at the start of the year. I didn't want to leave it for a while and say, 'OK, I'll put something in in dribs and drabs.'

"I just wanted to get it all in, get it all settled and have it over and done with, so eight, nine months down the line, I don't have to say, 'OK, right, I need to try to get this in or that in.'

"I just wanted to get it all in straightaway. I'm really comfortable with everything and I feel like they are a part of me now and that's the way a golf club should be."

4/08/2013

Clarke Withdraws from Masters

Getty Images

Darren Clarke has been forced to withdraw from the US Masters through injury.

The 2011 Open champion pulled a hamstring more than a week ago during holiday on The Bahamas island of Abaco and will miss the season’s first major championship.

"It is with deep regret that I will not be able to play at Augusta this year," said Clarke. "Playing in The Masters is one of golf’s greatest pleasures and I am very disappointed to be missing out."

The problem prompted Clarke to pull out of last week’s Texas Valero Open in the hope that further rest would speed his recovery, but intensive treatment twice a day has failed to bring the Northern Irishman back to the levels of fitness necessary to cope with the undulating terrain at Augusta National.

Clarke is to continue with treatment in The Bahamas, but will not make a decision on his comeback until the problem has been resolved.

Laird Holds Off Rory's 66

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy, who entered the Texas Open at the last minute to shake off rust before the year's opening major, flirted with his first win of the season as he showed improved form with a six-under par 66 for a 276 total.

The 23-year-old twice pulled within a shot of the lead with birdies on 14 and 16, but Laird, playing a group in front of McIlroy, kept up the torrid pace and birdied holes 16, 17 and 18.

But it was Scotland's Martin Laird who held off McIlroy with a spectacular final-round 63 to win the Texas Open by two shots over the world number two on Sunday.

Laird started the day five shots behind leader Billy Horschel but vaulted into the mix with five birdies on his front nine. He added four more on the back to complete the bogey-free round in nine-under and end the tournament at 14-under 274.

The victory brought Laird his first win on the PGA Tour in over two years and more importantly earned him an invitation to this week's Masters.

"It's pretty special," Laird told reporters, who missed four of eight cuts entering the tournament.

"I play my best golf when I'm aggressive. If someone is behind me making birdies I know I have to keep making (them)."

"Everything I wanted to accomplish this week, I accomplished," McIlroy said after his best finish of the year.

"I'm very happy that I'm going into next week with my game in good shape and my confidence level pretty high."

Overnight leader Horschel managed a one-under par 71 to finish three shots back at 277 along with Charley Hoffman (69) and Jim Furyk (69).

Padraig Harrington finished with a final round 70 to secure share of tenth place.

Shane Lowry was five places further adrift after his round of 70 on Sunday.

4/07/2013

McIlroy Holds Texas Hopes

Getty Images

Roy McIlroy started the round three of the Valero Texas Open on Saturday three strokes off the lead and began brightly with birdies at the first and third.

However, he gave one back at the next and the momentum was lost with successive dropped shots at the 10th and 11th in a round in which he was erratic from the tee.

But he remained in touch with the leaders with two birdies in the next three holes and sits alongside Texan duo Ryan Palmer (68) and Bob Estes (69).

Billy Horschel retained his two-shot lead going into the final round in San Antonio.

The in-form Floridian recorded five birdies to go with three bogeys as he added a round 70 to his earlier pair of 68s.

The 26-year-old looked solid for the entire third round and is in a good position to go one better than last week, when he tied for second in Houston.

Jim Furyk shot a 69 to join Charley Hoffman (70) on eight under par to be two back, while there was a further two-shot break back to a group of three players.

The Northern Irishman started the round three off the lead and began brightly with birdies at the first and third.

However, he gave one back at the next and the momentum was lost with successive dropped shots at the 10th and 11th in a round in which he was erratic from the tee.

But he remained in touch with the leaders with two birdies in the next three holes and sits alongside Texan duo Ryan Palmer (68) and Bob Estes (69).

Padraig Harrington joins Martin Laird a further stroke behind after rounds of 70.

Shane Lowry signed for a 72 and is 2 under overall.