Mcilroy a ‘marked man’
ATLANTA: World No 1 Rory McIlroy is the player to beat at this week’s Tour Championship and will be a “marked man” when he and his fellow Europeans defend the Ryder Cup next week, says American Jim Furyk.
Northern Irishman McIlroy has won three times in his last four PGA Tour starts and, said Furyk, is the “present-day” Tiger Woods.
“Obviously, he’s a marked man,” Furyk said at the East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday.
“He’s the No 1 one player in the world. He’s going to garner all the attention, as well he should. He’s played phenomenal this year.
“[He] won the PGA [Championship] by a ton of shots, won his last two events coming and no matter how he plays here at the Tour Championship, he’s the present-day Tiger Woods where everyone’s eyes are on him.
“Tiger is still Tiger and everyone would love to see that pairing in the Ryder Cup,” said Furyk of a mouthwatering potential match-up in the last-day singles. Ryder Cup competition only one week after the final event in the PGA Tour’s season.
“I like the fact that they’re back-to-back,” he said.
“I’ve always played my best golf when I can play my way into shape,” the 42-yearold veteran of seven Ryder Cups said.
For the first time in his career, Furyk failed to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup, but he feels no pressure to prove himself after being given one of four captain’s picks by Davis Love.
“I feel those selections were made not only by Davis and the assistants, but the eight guys that qualified for the team. They help pick the guys they wanted to form their team.
“I feel just as much a part of it. It’s always nice to be maybe a little angry and go out there and play that way, but we’ve got far better things to worry about and a great team on the other side.”
The Ryder Cup will be held at the Medinah Country Club, Chicago, from September 2830. – Reuters