Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley both believe the burden of expectations now on Rory McIlroy’s shoulders will do him now favours ahead of next fortnight’s British Open championship.
Clarke is returning to competition at today’s (THUR) starting French Open in Versailles after purposely missing last week’s BMW International Open in Munich to celebrate McIlroy’s Congressional command performance.
Portrush’s newest resident has known McIlroy long before he was a teenager and it was one celebration Clarke wasn’t going to miss.
“It was a pleasant and unexpected week off last week but it was all for a good reason,” said Clarke.
Surprisingly, there has been many, including Major Champions, ready to label McIlroy the next Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus, and this despite McIlroy having won just three Tour event but also losing the Masters.
However Clarke believes McIlroy has the right people around him to deal with this weight of expectation.
“The way Rory has conducted himself, the way he has handled himself, he is well able to cope with everything,” said Clarke.
“I’m not sure if we should be labelling him the next Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. All we know, is that he has just won his first Major in an unbelievable fashion.
“But he’s certainly has got masses amount of talent and that is obvious for everybody all to see.
“So I’m sure Rory will want to win many more Majors and hopefully ever body’s expectations won’t burden him too much, and that he just maturing and keeps getting better and better.
“Rory has good managers around him while his parents, Rosie and Gerry and very smart and they will ensure he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.
“But I know one thing, he doesn’t need my advice.”
Unlike Graeme McDowell and his ‘BMW’ line in describing McIlroy, McGinley, who had to sit out last week’s event in Munich due to a family illness, likened McIlroy’s eight stroke victory to that of a Rolls Royce.
“Rory is a great talent and a smashing kid to boot but some of the hype is just way over the top,” he said.
“Give the kid a break!
“He’s won three tournaments, one is a Major. He’s won it in a Rolls Royce style, and his career is a long way from being considered anywhere near Tiger’s.
“It’s just very premature to be placing that expectation on him, and no one knows that more than Rory.”
Clarke and McGinley are among seven Irish vying for the Euro 1/2m first prize French Open cheque.
All but Clarke will be seeking to secure a place in the British Open by finishing the leading player among the top five finishes on Sunday, and who are otherwise not exempt into the July 14th starting championship.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer is the highest world-ranked player at No. 4 but with organisers ignoring grouping him with visiting American Bubba Watson, who is competing in France for a first time.
Kaymer defeated Watson in a play-off last August to capture the U.S. PGA Champioship and it seems it was Kaymer’s suggestion to his fellow Scottsdale, Arizona resident
that enticed Watson to Paris.
And while there is report Watson went close to falling off a motorised bicylce, the World No. 12 is already enjoying his stay even if he’s having trouble with pronouncing some of Paris’ more famour land marks.
“I saw the big tower, Eiffel Tower, an arch, I rode around in a circle, and what’s that building that starts with an L?” he asked.
“The Louvre”, came the response from the mainly French press contingent.
