World No. 2 Rory McIlroy seems to have learnt his lesson after the huge embarrassment of missing the halfway cut in last week’s flagship BMW PGA Championship.
Not only did McIlroy lose his No. 1 title to England’s Luke Donald he also was dethroned as European No. 1 by Justin Rose who finished runner-up to Donald.
It was the first time in two years McIlroy had missed the cut in back-to-back tournaments.
The famed 'Memphis Belle' WW11 bomber not on McIlroy's list in electing to now contest the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
McIlroy has now revealed he will compete not on this week’s Jack Nicklaus hosted Memorial but will then travel to Memphis, Tennessee the following week for the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
But McIlroy has not added Memphis to his schedule to visit ‘Graceland’ and the home town of former rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley nor to inspect the famed World War 11 B-17 bomber, Memphis Belle’.
No, McIlroy will be out to regain that Congressional command winning form ahead of his U.S. Open title defence at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
It means McIlroy had canned a planned trip to the Titleist Performance Centre in California.
McIlroy spent a few hours on the Wentworth range on Saturday and according to sources travelled by Eurostar on Sunday to catch-up with tennis heart throb, Caroline Wozinacki who was practicing at the famed Rolland Garros clay courts ahead of the French Open.
McIlroy returned to Britain yesterday where he was in Leeds for a biometrics training session, and in the company of long-time coach, Michael Bannon.
From Manchester, McIlroy made his way to Heathrow Airport and on to the States and Columbus, Ohio for Thursday’s starting Memorial.
He Twitted: “In Heathrow and about to go to the US. Excited about the next 3 weeks! Memorial, Memphis and then defend the U.S. Open in San Francisco.”
McIlroy will be competing in ‘Jack’s tournament’ for a third year running and after finishing fifth last year while he was 29th in his only Memphis appearance two years ago.
The curly-haired Northern Irishman will then be looking to become the first golfer since Curtis Strange in 1989 to successfully defend the U.S. Open.
