Lean and keen Rory hits reset button
NO WONDER Rory McIlroy was less than amused at all those ‘heart scare’ stories. Looking lean and fitter than at any time in his career, the 28-year-old has targeted an instant return to winning ways on his comeback here. ‘Everything I’m seeing in practice tells me the next win is not that far away,’ said the Northern Irishman, who will play his first event in more than 100 days at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, followed by the Dubai Desert Classic. ‘I’ve been practising hard and shooting some low scores. The sabbatical is over. After a decade as a pro, I’ve pressed the reset button, and I’m excited to get going.’ His renewed dedication extends to matters both on and off the course. On it, these next two events will be followed by six more in America before he arrives at the Masters in April. ‘I’m not only playing more, but I’m going to arrive at events earlier,’ he revealed. ‘I’ll give myself an extra day to get used to things like green speeds and rough lengths.’ Away from the course he has been putting in some serious work in the gym. He has radically changed his diet as well. He said: ‘I feel better, I’m leaner, the energy levels are better and hopefully that will affect how I perform.’ Tomorrow McIlroy starts alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Dustin Johnson. Europe’s No 1 Fleetwood was pleased to begin his week as defending champion by receiving the trophy named after Seve Ballesteros as 2017 Players’ Player of the Year. ‘I’m more emotional receiving this award than any of the others,’ he said.