Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rory’s Irish missed
Golf ace focuses on Open in Portrush
RORY Mcilroy will miss the Irish Open to focus on preparing for the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July.
The tournament is returning to our shores for the first time since 1951 and the 29-year-old is looking to win his first major since 2014.
The Co Down man said: “If there is ever a year when I feel I can miss this Irish Open, it’s this year.”
Mcilroy, who wants to maintain his European Tour membership this season, will play the Scottish Open immediately before the Portrush spectacular.
He told the BBC: “If I was to play the Irish Open, the Open Championship would be my third event in a row. For me, that’s not the best way to prepare for what could be the biggest event of my life.” Mcilroy had hosted the Irish Open since 2015 and won it at The K Club in 2016, but Paul Mcginley will take over hosting duties at Lahinch, Co Clare, this year.
Mcginley was critical of Mcilroy’s suggestion he might only play two regular European Tour events this season – which would mean losing his membership and the right to be Ryder Cup captain in the future.
However, the Holywood man says he will play the minimum number of four events to maintain his membership and says critics “don’t see the bigger picture”.
He added: “I wouldn’t miss that [the Ryder Cup] for the world. I’m still going to be a member of the team.”