McIlroy puts grand slam bid on hold

Rory McIlroy admits his bid to complete the career grand slam has been pushed to the back of his mind ahead of his return to action in the WGC-Mexico Championship.

McIlroy needs victory in the Masters to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in having won all four major titles, but has played just once in 2017 due to a rib injury.

The 27-year-old now has only three events to prepare for the year’s first major at Augusta, where he has finished in the top 10 in each of the last three years.

“Honestly I haven’t thought much about Augusta,” McIlroy said in a pre-tournament press conference at Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City, which is so far above sea level that McIlroy has been hitting eight irons 210 yards.

“My biggest concern has just been getting healthy and being able to get back here.

“I think it’s nice I get to play four rounds, see where my game is, take the week off next week, reassess how my body feels, how my game feels and then from there I can start to think about the Masters and think about what I really need to do to get ready for Augusta.”

McIlroy can reclaim top spot in the world rankings for the first time since August 2015 by winning his third World Golf Championship title, as long as Dustin Johnson finishes joint fourth or worse.

Rory McIlroy: three events to prepare for Masters bid.