Rory is ready to soar after hitting reset
No wonder Rory Mcilroy was less than amused at all those ‘heart scare’ stories at the weekend. Looking lean and fitter than at any point in his career and the embodiment of athletic chic, the 28-year-old has targeted an instant return to winning ways on his comeback here in the Middle east.
‘i know these next two events might be revealing and show up things i need to work on, but 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 the abu Dhabi HSBC championship beginning tomorrow, followed by the Dubai Desert classic next week.
‘i know it’s different when you have a card in your hand, but 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 again.’
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 for his tilt at the career Grand Slam.
‘i’m not only playing more but i’m going to arrive at events earlier,’ revealed Mcilroy. ‘i’d got into a habit of turning up on a tuesday afternoon, play the pro-am on Wednesday and go, and on reflection that’s not the best preparation.
‘if i get there on Monday, i’ll give myself an extra day to get used to things like green speeds and rough lengths because, obviously, each week the golf course changes quite a bit.’
one look tells you that, away from the course, Mcilroy has been putting in some serious work in the gym. He has radically changed his diet, as well.
‘i’m probably a pain in the backside for waiters when trying to order something, with: “can you do it this way or cook it without any oil or any butter?” but it’s been all good,’ he said. ‘i’ve been disciplined, and it shows. i feel better, i’m leaner, the energy levels are better and hopefully that’ll affect how i perform on the golf course.’
certainly, there will be no place to hide tomorrow as he plays his first round alongside europe’s No 1 tommy Fleetwood and world No 1 Dustin Johnson, who already has a win under his belt this season.
‘i saw Dustin’s impressive success in Hawaii. in fact, i’ve watched a lot of golf during my break, including tommy’s great triumph in the Race to Dubai,’ added Mcilroy. ‘it helps to get the juices going. You want to get back out there and have some wins of your own.’
as for Fleetwood, he was clearly chuffed to begin his week as defending champion by receiving the handsome trophy named after Seve ballesteros as Players’ Player of the Year for last season.
‘i’m more emotional receiving this award than any of the others,’ said the englishman.
Meanwhile, the first two rounds of next week’s event in Dubai could finish under floodlights.
With the £2.2million tournament taking place a week earlier than normal, the amount of daylight could prove a problem for the later starters in the field.
However, floodlights have been installed around the combined ninth and 18th greens on the Majlis course at emirates Gc to ensure play can finish on schedule, allowing a field of 132 players rather than 126.
european tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: ‘this is a wonderful idea and fits perfectly with our desire to bring innovation to our sport.
‘We thank the promoters of the omega Dubai Desert classic for their imagination, which will allow six more players to compete in what is already a world-class field.
‘No professional golfer ever wants to come back the following morning to complete a round due to lack of daylight and this intervention, should it be required, will rule out that necessity.
‘the wonderful amphitheatre around the ninth and 18th greens at the emirates Golf club is already one of the most atmospheric arenas on our tour and that element will only be increased by this idea.’
Pelley has previously floated the idea of playing a full event under lights, although that received short shrift from 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett.
‘that would be a useless idea,’ Willett said back in November 2016. ‘it would be okay for a giggle, but not for a real tournament and Race to Dubai money.’