McIlroy has now truly arrived - virtually

GOLF: AS SOMEONE not long out of his teens, Rory McIlroy understands the subtleties of twiddling his fingers around a games console almost as much as the intricacies of gripping a golf club.

Now, though, the 20-year-old doesn’t have to assume the persona of Tiger Woods or Justin Leonard or Tom Lehman when playing his PlayStation or X Box: in the new EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 edition, he can be himself.

“It’s pretty cool,” remarked McIlroy. “I’ve always played the game quite a bit, for the past 10 or 11 years, and more often than not I’d play as Tiger. Yeah, it’s good to be included in this new version.”

The inclusion of McIlroy’s image in the digital game simply reaffirms the great appeal the Ulsterman has, not just in Europe but around the world. Although he has been a professional for just two years, McIlroy has made giant strides – he is 24th in the world rankings – and, with the four majors having come and gone, he heads into a late-season campaign that culminates with the Race to Dubai in November.

These are busy times, and McIlroy kick-starts the next leg of the season by playing on the Britain and Ireland team against Continental Europe in next week’s Vivendi Trophy match in Paris, which he sees as an opportunity to get reacquainted with the different demands of team golf as he targets a maiden appearance in the Ryder Cup next year.

“I can’t wait for Paris, and it’s really great to be playing under Paul McGinley (BI captain). I’ve gotten to know him quite well since I’ve been out on tour, and whenever I’ve needed him he’s always been available with advice.”

After that, however, McIlroy’s focus will be on a hectic schedule aimed at giving himself the best possible chance of topping the European Tour’s Order of Merit.

He lies in third place, behind Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey, with season’s earnings of €1,726,927 and an itinerary down the line that takes in the Dunhill Links in a fortnight, then the Portuguese Masters, the Volvo World Matchplay, the HSBC Champions, the Hong Kong Open and Dubai.

“I feel fresh coming into this run of tournaments. I’ve given myself good breaks throughout the season, taken the weeks off when I needed them, and I feel good about my game. This is a big part of the season for me,” admitted McIlroy.

McIlroy has manoeuvred his way into a challenging position in the Race to Dubai with a run of top-10 finishes throughout the season, although it seems a long time since he achieved his maiden tour win in the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

“I feel like a win is just around the corner again but I’ve had a lot of good finishes. I mean, third in the (US) PGA, 10th in the US Open. I’d take those finishes rather than winning a regular tournament.

“I’ve learnt a lot from this season. The biggest thing, I think, is that I’ve learnt how to manage my game even when it’s not quite there. I’m not shooting myself in the foot in any rounds. Yeah, I’m managing myself well and to have so many top-10s this season shows that consistency.”

Down the road, McIlroy will have to consider whether to take up membership of the US Tour. For now, though, his inclusion on the PGA Tour game indicates he has well and truly arrived . . . . and he can focus on attempting to top the European Tour moneylist.