McIlroy to answer Irish Open mayday
Rory McIlroy. Picture: Getty Images
Rory McIlroy reiterated his desire to tee it up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open next year and insisted he'll definitely play if the date is changed from July to late May.
The world number two said last week that he couldn't see himself skipping the event "two years running” especially in May.
And he doubled down on that promise ahead of the BMW PGA at Wentworth yesterday, leading to speculation that the May 28-31 date is a done deal.
"There are a lot of things going on," he told RTE Radio of the difficulty of the 4 July weekend date occupied by the Irish Open since 2017. "It's two weeks before The Open and I like to play the week before a major.
"The 4th of July weekend in the States is a big deal for my now extended family — my wife, my mother and father in law being over in the States and celebrating that with them. So there is a lot that goes into it more than just playing golf.
"I don't want them to change the date just for me, but if it's that May date that they're contemplating, I'll definitely be back for it.
"I said I don't think I'd miss the Irish Open two years in a row. So yeah, I'd say people will expect to see me there."
Having promised minutes after his Lahinch victory to defend his title, Spain’s Jon Rahm is not put off by a late May date, telling reporters, "I'll be there, don't worry."
McIlroy's lone Irish Open win came at The K Club on 22 May 2016 but this week he's seeking more parkland success at Wentworth, where he kick-started his sensational 2014 season by capturing his first BMW PGA.
He’s already won three times this year and now wants to match or even beat his five-win 2012 campaign and close the gap on world number one Brooks Koepka and challenge Shane Lowry for the Race to Dubai.
"I think all the great golf that I've played up until this point this year moves me in the right direction and gives me motivation to try and end this year well and try to get a couple more wins," McIlroy said.
The Holywood star is a certainty to make his sixth Ryder Cup appearance next year and European skipper Pádraig Harrington yesterday described Swede Robert Karlsson a "no-brainer pick" as the first of his vice-captains.
Pádraig Harrington with his Ryder Cup vice-captain, Robert Karlsson. Picture: Getty Images
The Dubliner (48) has a list of 20 young guns he wants to get to know personally and will tick the sensational Norwegian rookie Viktor Hovland off the list when they roam the Burma Road track for the first two rounds.
He already knows all about Paul Dunne and Shane Lowry and hinted that the new Open champion would be a serious consideration for a wildcard, even as a rookie.
"Whistling Straits would be right up his alley," Harrington told Meridian Media. "It's a big, windy golf course. Ideal for Shane.
"I hope he doesn't give me any stress over the next 12 months and continues playing in the current form. Clearly if it was picked at the moment, he'd be the leading the points race.
"But it is hard from Shane's perspective, having such a big year and living up top those expectations is never easy. This game moves on very quickly.
"If Shane is there or thereabouts, he is going to be very strong in my mind just because the golf course suits him so much. He has shown that he can play on the big stage.
"And you also want a little bit of intimidation factor with your players and guys would l know they would be up against it if they meet Shane around Whistling Straits for sure."
Speaking to Sky Sports about what the qualifying race reveals, Harrington added: “We see guys who try too hard.”
Grinning, he added: “Some get Ryder Cup-itis But that's good for the team. If they have Ryder Cup-itis I don't want them in the team.
“The system does weed out players. If they are not able to handle the pressure of qualifying, I don't want them in the team anyway. It's a system that's worked very well for us so far.”
He sees Hovland not as a player, not just for future Ryder Cups, but the next one.
“He has come out really hot,|” Harrington said of the former world No 1 amateur, who is 108 under par for the 12 professional events he has played this year.
“These young guys are unbelievable now. I met him and talked to him, and it struck me how comfortable he was. When you go from amateur to pro, it's about how comfortable you feel in the bigger league, and he looks likes he's enjoying it. He really feels comfortable.
“I have about 20 young players I want to play at least two rounds of golf with and this is a big opportunity to see him up close and personal this week.”
Seamus Power returns to action in the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi today hoping to open his 2019-20 PGA Tour account after missing the cut in his opening event last week.
