World No. 1 Rory McIlroy faces a balancing act this week of being a successful host and also capturing a first Irish Open title.
McIlroy quickly put aside the embarrassment of missing the cut in last week’s BMW PGA Championship in teaming with his father, Gerry and long-time coach, Michael Bannon playing a practice round last Sunday on this week’s Royal County Down host venue.
The four-time Major winner than played an 18-hole practice round on Monday ahead of the off-course formalities starting with Tuesday night’s gala dinner to raise funds through his own Rory McIlroy Foundation to assist a local cancer respite centre.
McIlroy then hosted Wednesday’s Pro-Am and with three American businessman combining to donate $160,000 to his Foundation to play alongside McIlroy even though they were all 10 minutes late to the tee.
Rory MCILROY (NIR) meets with the Down Junior Challenge winners in the media centre ahead of the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle Co Down, Northern Ireland. 27/05/2015
Picture Fran Caffrey, www.golffile.ie
“I don’t feel like there’s any problem even if you play four or five weeks in a row, physically, you feel fine, and it’s just the mental challenge of trying to keep it at that high level the whole time,” said McIlroy.
“I think that’s more the challenge, and sometimes you just need to let yourself come down for a few days. That’s what sort of happened. I just couldn’t really keep it going. But physically I feel fine.
“We’re walking around 18 holes and it’s not too strenuous on the body.”
McIlroy made his Irish Open debut in 2005 as a then 16-year old amateur but then ended his amateur career at Royal County Down as a member of the losing GB & I Walker Cup side.
Current World No. 9 Rickie Fowler was a member of the USA Team and with Fowler, who is returning to competition of a first time since capturing the Player Championship, one of McIlroy’s closest friends on tour.
An arresting moment for Ireland’s Damien McGrane during today’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“It wasn’t that hard a pitch to make to Rickie to play this week as I knew what a fan he was of the golf course,” said McIlroy.
“We played against each other at the Walker Cup here and Rickie is a great guy. You see all the other stuff he does, as well. It looks like it’s very hard for him to say no.
“And I wanted Rickie to play here just because of the history that we had here. It’s great to have him here. I was very pleased that Rickie and Sergio were in the playoff at The Players a couple weeks ago; creates more buzz about this tournament, and it was great to see him win.
“The two previous yours tournaments Rickie had won as a professional before the Players, I finished runner-up in both of them. He beat me in play-off at Quail Hollow and he beat me by six or seven in Korea a couple years ago.
“So there’s a lot of young guys out there now and we’re sort of pushing each other. But Rickie really stepped it up there at the Players was a really impressive performance and it’s just great to have him here this week.”
Organisers have drawn the two to play the opening two rounds together and joined by double Major winning Martin Kaymer.
