GOLF:AS RORY McIlroy has discovered, especially after his US Masters meltdown, there's no point in looking backwards if you want to move on. And, so, just as he recovered from that nightmare final round in Augusta last year by following up with a win in his very next major outing at the US Open, the Ulsterman hasn't wasted any time reflecting on what might have been if it wasn't for the two-stroke penalty in Abu Dhabi, which ultimately proved the difference between winning and losing.
Although McIlroy – who has a week’s break before resuming tournament play in next week’s Dubai Desert Classic, where he made his tournament breakthrough win in 2010 – tweeted that the two-shot penalty “cost me in the end,” he was more philosophical in the spoken word.
“It’s one of those things, it happens, and I’m not going to lose any sleep over it,” he responded when asked if the penalty was in his thinking.
McIlroy’s runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi behind Robert Rock moved the 22-year-old back into the world’s number two position, closing the gap on Luke Donald to a 1.77 average – 7.98 to Donald’s 9.75 – and confirmed he remains tournament sharp after the winter break.
“I’m really looking forward (to Dubai), to a course I’ve done well at before and (have) great memories of. I’m looking forward to getting another week’s worth of practice and coming out and trying to challenge for that title and my first title of the year.”
He added: “I’ve just got to work on the same things I was working on, a little bit of posture, trying to get the club in the right position on the way back.”
While McIlroy has opted to take a week before resuming tournament play in Dubai, no fewer than six Irish players have moved on from Abu Dhabi to Doha for this week’s Qatar Masters, where they are augmented by the season reappearance of Paul McGinley.
McGinley, who was troubled by his bothersome knee in the latter part of last season, actually played in a pro-am in Qatar yesterday and reports no issues with the knee as he heads into a season where he is using his position in the top-40 career earners to map out an itinerary. He plans to return home after Qatar, missing out on Dubai, before resuming at the Avantha Masters in India the following week. “I’m hitting the ball well and feel really ready,” he said.
The septet of Irishmen in action in Qatar are: McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey, Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is the defending champion in Qatar but the lure of appearance money – just as it worked in Abu Dhabi – has ensured a strong field, with world numbers three and four Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer joined by world number 10 Jason Day and US Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan and Players’ champion KJ Choi.
Pádraig Harrington’s quest to get back into the world’s top-64 ahead of next month’s Accenture Matchplay championship has gone into reverse after he dropped from 88th to 90th in the latest world rankings released yesterday. The Dubliner has a week off before resuming play in the ATT Pebble Beach Pro-Am next week, his seasonal debut on the US Tour.
Tiger Woods, though, has re-entered the world’s top-20 – in 17th position, one spot behind old adversary Phil Mickelson – in the world rankings.
Outside the top 50 just a month ago, Woods will also make his first start on the US Tour at Pebble Beach where he will be partnered by American footballer Tony Romo. His next appearance after Pebble Beach will be in the Accenture.
Rock’s win in Abu Dhabi has seen him jump from 117th in the world rankings up to 55th, a move that secures him a place in the Matchplay in Arizona and puts him within touching distance of an invitation to the Masters. Those in the top 50 in the world not already exempt two weeks before the Masters will earn a late invitation.
Meanwhile, British Open champion Darren Clarke – who has parted company with caddie John Mulrooney, who was on his bag at Sandwich – has decided to take a three-week break, with “work in the gym and hard practice” on the agenda, before reappearing on tour at the Accenture Matchplay.
