San Antonio, Texas
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy walked from the 18th green at TPC San Antonio delivering this week’s Valero Texas Open venue an Augusta National seal of approval.
There was many quick to criticise the worth of McIlroy adding the $6.2m tournament to his schedule just a week before teeing up in the season’s first major.
But after only 12 completed rounds of golf this year what McIlroy needs most now in the little time remaining before the Masters is four rounds with a scorecard in his back pocket.
Rory McIlroy hitting off the 16th during a Tuesday practice round – Shane Lowry (Blue shirt) and his coach Neil Manchin (black shirt/sunglasses) along with Billy Mayfair (red shirt.) (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I liked the golf course and it’s a course where you have to hit the shots and also drive it well, and iron play is going to be very important as the greens are small with a lot of run offs,” said McIlroy.
“So it’s going to be a good test and you are going to have to play really well.
“The course doesn’t remind me of any course I’ve played before on the PGA Tour and the front nine, if anything, has a Spanish feel to it with all the trees and rocks.
“Compared to Augusta, Augusta National is a little more generous off the tee and iron play at Augusta is obviously huge, and the only thing here in San Antonio it’s going to be windy.
“I don’t mind if it is windy because I’ve been used to playing in the wind back home and also at West Palm Beach where it’s windy all the time.
“But what I’m here for is for four rounds of competitive golf with a score card in my hand.
“That’s the most important thing for me to accomplish this week.”
McIlroy will play in tomorrow’s Oak Farms Dairy Pro-Am and out in the very first group at 7.20am and with course designer, Greg Norman out at 8.20am local times.
Lance Raska and his two-and-a-half year old daughter, Raegan with a signed Rory McIlroy Valero Texas Open commemorative flag. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Rory McIlroy with San Antonio Spurs played Bruce Bowen during Sunday nigth’s NBA game against the Miami Heat.
