Mcilroy is striving to end drought and start year on a high
RORY Mcilroy is impatient to get back into the winner’s circle as he bids for an overdue victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Mcilroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but he has not played one of the European Tour’s biggest events in the last two seasons.
The four-time Major winner endured the third winless season of his professional career in 2020 and last tasted victory in the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
“China back in November 2019 does feel like a long time ago,” Mcilroy said. “The world was a much different place back then.
“I had a great start last year. I didn’t really play that great coming back out of lockdown, but then felt like I was starting to play a lot better as the season came to an end. I saw some promising signs in LA and Vegas and had a decent Masters. I played really well the last three rounds there.
“So, yeah, I’m trying not to be impatient. I try to stay as patient as possible, but what I will say is that last win does feel like quite a long time ago at this point.
“(A win) would be a great way to start the year. I saw something the other day and, of the 13 times I’ve played a first tournament of a season in my pro career, I’ve had 11 top fives.
“The fact that there is no win in there is a little surprising. I come out at the start of the year and I don’t think you’re as fully sharp as you would want to be, but at least the optimism is there and the enthusiasm is there.
“You don’t have any scar tissue built up from previous tournaments that year. I feel like every year is a fresh start and I like that feeling. I have played well the first tournament back and hopefully I can do the same again.”
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas has received the backing of Mcilroy as the American vowed to examine why he used a homophobic slur during the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Thomas was heard using the derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt on the fourth hole of his third round at Kapalua earlier this month.
The World No.3 apologised at the time but was subsequently dropped by clothing sponsor Ralph Lauren.
Mcilroy believes Thomas will learn from the incident and be less “ignorant” of words which can cause offence.
“I think he’s already responded really, really well,” Ulsterman Mcilroy said. “I think he realised he made a big mistake as soon as it was brought to him and he completely owned up to it.
“He said he messed up, he’s going to try to be better. And Justin is true to his word. He will be.
“I’ve got to know Justin really well and he is as good a guy as they come. He’s got a lot of integrity, a lot of character. Obviously it doesn’t make what he said any better, but I think in this day and age it’s hard because it seems like you’re not allowed to make a mistake. Any mistake is jumped on.
“He made a mistake, he owned up to it and he’ll be better because of it. He’ll maybe not be as ignorant to things that offend people. Obviously what he said was offensive to a large portion of the population but, again, he’ll be better for it.
“He’ll learn and he’ll move on. If anything, it will probably just make him a better person than he already is.”