Upbeat McIlroy aims for Doral bounceback after missed cut

A rare missed cut for Rory McIlroy at last week's Honda Classic was the result of a rusty game and windy conditions, said the world number one, who was in an upbeat mood for this week's WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami.

In three starts this year, McIlroy has also recorded a win at the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic and a runner-up spot at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and will be the top drawcard at the season's opening major, the Masters next month.

"After coming off a three-week break, you never quite know how your game's going to be," the Northern Irishman told reporters at Trump National Doral on Wednesday about his missed cut at the Honda, his first since the Irish Open last June.

"It wasn't a bad week to see where I was. I identified a few things I needed to work on over the weekend and I feel like I have addressed those. It was mostly just to do with playing in the wind.

"At least I know going into this week where my game is. Even if things maybe don't go my way at some point during the round, I'll know how to manage it a little bit better."

McIlroy, whose scores of 73 and 74 at the Honda Classic left him well outside the cut-line, has already attracted plenty of hype ahead of the Apr. 9-12 Masters where he will bid to complete a career grand slam of the four majors.

"It's obviously a great position to be in, going into Augusta and having it being the only major that I haven't won," said the 25-year-old, who has already claimed a U.S. Open, a British Open and two PGA Championships.

"There is always excitement, anticipation and hype that surrounds Augusta every year. I would feel it regardless if I am going in as the favourite or under the radar.

"My name is getting thrown around a little bit more than it used to but I'm okay with that."

Asked whether he felt a false sense of urgency as he prepares for the Masters and a third successive major victory, McIlroy replied: "There is a bit of that.

"Touch wood, it's not going to be the only Masters that I will play in for the rest of my career. Hopefully I will have many more opportunities to try and win it."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

McIlroy struggles in wind at Honda but lives to fight on

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida - Rory McIlroy has had his share of ups and downs at the Honda Classic and Thursday's opening round, where he shot a three-over-par 73, was no different.

The Northern Irishman won at PGA National in 2012 with a victory that sent him to the world number one spot for the first time in his career and signalled his arrival as one of the sport's true stars.

McIlroy walked off the course just a year later during his first round, talking about being in a "bad place" but later saying a painful toothache had been behind his withdrawal.

Twelve months ago, he played some outstanding golf but surrendered a three-stroke lead with an error-strewn 74 in the final round before losing out to American Russell Henley in a four-way playoff.

It looked as though McIlroy's bad vibes at the Honda Classic were once again back on Thursday when he lost his ball with an errant drive from the tee on the first hole, where he ended up with a double-bogey.

The strong wind that afflicted the early starters had intensified by the time McIlroy teed off and he said that was a major factor during his round.

"The wind just took it to the right," the four-times major champion told reporters about his tee shot on the opening hole. "I was just trying to play a normal sort of straight shot there and I didn't really try and do much with it.

"Even the second ball I hit, I tried to put some draw on it and the wind still moved it to the right. It was very strong out there and very difficult to control the ball."

Another double, on the par-three fifth, left McIlroy at four over par but he restored some respectability to his round with birdies on the final two holes.

"The conditions were obviously very tricky from the start," the Northern Irishman said. "You know, from the first hole, it was always going to be a day like that.

"I feel like I salvaged something out of the round the last couple of holes, but it was just a day to keep trying, not to give up and know that anything around level, one or two over par, still isn't out of it.

"So it wasn't quite what I wanted, but hopefully tomorrow morning we get calmer conditions and we're able to give ourselves a few more opportunities and make some birdies," said the 25-year-old.

"Today wasn't obviously what I wanted to start with but if I can get it into red numbers tomorrow, you know, I'm right back in the tournament." (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com