McIlroy out to regain sparkle at puzzling PGA
RORY McIlroy admits to having a weird relationship with the Wentworth course, but he will be hoping, after a chastening experience at the Masters, to rediscover a bit of his old sparkle at the PGA Championship.
The 29-year-old quadruple major champion, who looked well placed going into the final round to win an elusive Masters before his challenge fizzled out, makes his first appearance on European soil this year in a bid to win the prestigious title he claimed in 2014.
McIlroy is the major draw in a field that includes defending champion Alex Noren of Sweden and last year’s Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood.
“I’ve had a weird relationship with Wentworth,” McIlroy said in April. “I had the win there back in 2014 but I haven’t really done much else.
“I think I had a top five back in 2009, but it’s been a place of high frustration for me so I’m looking forward to going back and trying to solve the puzzle again. At least I do have good memories there.”
The former world No1, who started the European Tour season with top three finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is encouraged that his relationship with the course could be due a change because it has undergone a revamp since he last played it.
“I haven’t played there in a couple of years, but from what I’ve seen, with the new grass that they’ve put in, it looks a much better golf course, a much more playable golf course,” said McIlroy.
“It was always a great golf course but sometimes it could get very tricky with some of the lies you could get.
“For them to re-grass the place and for it to look as good as it does is great, and I’m looking forward to playing it.”
McIlroy carded a sublime 66 in his final round to win in 2014 – an annus mirabilis for him as he went on to win two majors, the British Open and the US PGA – but Noren bettered that in some style last year with an incredible round of 62 after beginning the day seven strokes off the lead.
Noren will tee off with McIlroy and veteran Lee Westwood.
Winning the PGA would all but guarantee the winner a place in the European team for the Ryder Cup later this year, but Fleetwood, for his part, says that it would be a mistake to allow that to enter one’s thoughts.
“The Ryder Cup, for any of us, is a dream,” Fleetwood said.
“I’m desperate to play in the Ryder Cup, but the more you think about it and the more you put too much pressure on yourself to make it – if I was to go out and start on Thursday with a couple of bogeys and you’re thinking about the Ryder Cup in September, it’s only going to add pressure.”