Rory McIlroy will tee-up in this week’s PGA Tour flagship Players Championship brimming with confidence but also sporting a series of cuts and scratches on his boyish 25-year old face.
McIlroy had a close encounter on Tuesday with bushes while playing a social round with his close friends Mitchell Tweedy and Ricky McCormick at the exclusive Bears Club.
The double Major winner, who has cuts on his lip and the right side of his face, had raised eyebrows in deciding not to play a practice round at this week’s TPC Sawgrass course and cancelled all pre-event media engagements.
Rory McIlroy’s bag at the back of the TPC Sawgrass 17th. McIlroy’s close friends Mitchell Tweedy (blue shirt) and Ricky McCormick (Orange shirt) on the far right of green. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
However he surprised officials teeing up around 2pm local time yesterday (WED) and playing the back nine with Tweedy and McCormick as on-course company.
McIlroy is returning competition after last week’s share of eighth place in the Wells Fargo Championship, and also his seventh top-10 in 10 events this year.
And he’ll tee-up on the Stadium course with the added confidence of sharing eighth place on the course a year ago, and after missing the halfway cut in the three prior years.
Rory McIlroy tees off the 18th in his Wednesday practice round as Sweden’s Jonas Blixt looks on at the 18th tee on the TPC Sawgrass course. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I took Monday off after my birthday and the Wells Fargo on Sunday and then did a good day’s work on Tuesday at the Bears Club,” he said.
“And apart from getting these scratches and looking for a golf ball that wasn’t mine, I feel I didn’t need to rush up here to Sawgrass given there is no Pro-Am at the event.
“I had all intentions of then flying up here at 5pm yesterday (TUES) but I thought it would be nice to spend another night in my own bed.
www.golfbytourmiss.com captures this shot of Rory McIlroy hitting into the final green on route to birdie in his Wednesday practice round. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Also I finally figured out last year how to play this golf course and not let it frustrate me, as the first few years it really frustrated me.
“And it is playing a lot softer this year than it ever has since I’ve been coming here, and all the fuss about the 11th and 12th greens is no concern because they can move the pins about to avoid the poor spots and where you want have to putt over it.
“But then I putted over them today and it’s no big deal and they look worse than they actually are.
“I heard John Rollins say that for $US 10m that he’d putt over muddy greens and I totally agree.”
