World No. 1 Rory McIlroy gets back to work at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the first of seven events to end his most successful season.
McIlroy will team with his father, Gerry who turns 55 on Sunday, before taking a well-earned week fortnight’s break from competition.
Seven years ago McIlroy stood at the back of the 18th green at St. Andrews watching Scotland’s Paul Lawrie standing over a birdie putt on the final day of the 2007 Alfred Dunhill Links.
“If Paul misses this birdie putt that’s my Tour card,” said McIlroy at the time.
Lawrie missed the putt and McIlroy secured his Tour card for the 2008 season. Since them McIlroy has gone to win four Majors, win a first WGC title, win four events on the regular European Tour schedule including this year’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, enjoy success in four PGA Tour events.
Rory McIlroy looking to end his best ever season with further success over his remaining six 2014 tournaments. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
As well, McIlroy captured last year’s Emirates Australian Open and just last week he was a member of a third straight victorious European Ryder Cup team.
And while the now 25-year targets a first Alfred Dunhill Links success he is also looking to end the year with victory in either of the following events:-
* PGA Grand Slam of Golf (October 14 to 15th)
* BMW Masters (October 30th to November 2nd)
* WGC – HSBC Champions (November 6th to 9th)
* DP World Tour Championship (November 20 – 23rd)
* Emirates Australian Open (November 27th to 30th)
And McIlroy indicated he will end his season hosting a Rory McIlroy Foundation outing in New York in the week after competing in Sydney, and the same week as the Tiger Woods hosts World Challenge in Florida.
“I’ve still got some big events coming up with this week, two in China, Dubai and Australia and I would first love to have a chance to win here on Sunday, especially having my dad alongside me,” he said.
“So then looking forward to three weeks off before I’m going to Bermuda and play the Grand Slam.
“I’ve come close a couple of times in China at the BMW and HSBC and haven’t quite been able to get the job done there. It would be great to add my second World Golf Championship of the season along with my two majors, as well, and Dubai is always a place I’ve enjoyed and looking forward to getting back down to Australia to defend that title.
“So there’s a lot to look forward to till the end of the season.
“I’d love to win a couple of those events, at least and I feel like I’m playing well enough to do that. But I’m not going to put any pressure on myself.
“There’s been a lot of intense tournaments, and it’s sort of the point of the season where I’m letting it wind down a little bit.
“But then there is the Race to Dubai and winning that for a second time is a big golf of mine. I’ve got a pretty healthy lead at the minute and if I do well this week, hopefully I can make that insurmountable over the next few weeks and go from there.”
