McIlroy sure that he’s on upward curve
RORY McIlroy says his game is looking good after shooting a three-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta as the big guns fired ahead of next weekend’s Ryder Cup.
The Holywood ace — champion in 2016 — is two shots adrift of leaders Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler, with Justin Rose and Gary Woodland on four-under.
“I hit a lot of good iron shots and wedges. The game is trending, it’s going in the right direction,” said McIlroy.
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s European Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia dedicated his first round at the Portugal Masters to Celia Barquin Arozamena, the Spanish golfer who was murdered in America.
Garcia carded an opening 66 in Vilamoura to end the day three shots behind Australia’s Lucas Herbert. “It was nice to shoot a nice score and dedicate it to Celia,” he said.
THE Ryder Cup big hitters were in blistering form in the opening round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta with Rory McIlroy joining the chasing pack.
Tiger Woods grabbed a share of the lead in brilliant style but the Holywood ace has him in his sights.
The 2016 champion is on three-under par, just two shots adrift of leaders Woods and Rickie Fowler.
“There was a lot of good in there,” said McIlroy, whose European Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose reached four-under alongside Gary Woodland.
“I drove the ball great, I put the ball in play which you really need to do with this Bermuda rough, and I hit a lot of good iron shots and wedges, the stuff that I’ve been working on in the past few weeks.
“The game is trending, it’s going in the right direction.”
Woods holed from 25ft for an eagle on the 18th at East Lake to complete a five-under-par 65 and join his Ryder Cup team-mate Fowler at the top of the leaderboard.
After three-putting the first hole for a bogey, Woods recovered to birdie the fifth and sixth and picked up further shots on the 12th and 14th before thrilling the large crowds with his grandstand finish.
The 42-year-old has recorded six top-10 finishes this season but has not tasted victory since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.
Woods said: “After the three-wiggle at one, I played my way back into it and made two good putts at five and six that turned the whole round around.
“I know how to play this course, I know the angles, I just haven’t seen the greens at this speed. This is something different. They are perfectly smooth but quick.
“Our game plan was being more defensive but when you have a green light, go for it.”
Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia dedicated an encouraging start in his Ryder Cup warmup event to Celia Barquin Arozamena, the promising young Spanish golfer who was murdered on a golf course in the United States on Monday.
Garcia (above) carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 66 in the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura to end the day three shots behind Australia’s Lucas Herbert, who returned a flawless 63.
The former Masters champion said on social media earlier this week he had been “heartbroken” by the shocking news about 22-year-old European Ladies’ Amateur Champion Barquin, who was found dead on a course in Iowa.
The pair had met in the past and Garcia said: “It was nice to shoot a nice score and dedicate that to Celia. I was wearing black for that, too.”
Garcia had not competed since the middle of August after failing to qualify for the Fed Ex Cup play-offs on the PGA Tour, although that did not stop European captain Thomas Bjorn handing the 38-year-old a wildcard for next week’s Ryder Cup.
“You are a bit rusty so there are little things you have to work with in your mind,” Garcia added. “The goal was to come here and do as well as I can, to get the competition juices going.
“(The Ryder Cup) is special. There’s nothing like it. Winning it is even better. But, win or lose, to have the possibility of being part of a Ryder Cup team, playing in your colours and playing with amazing friends, there is no other tournament like it. That’s one of the reasons I love it.”