While Rory McIlroy is determined to capture what could be the final Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf he remains undecided if he will contest next year’s Irish Open.
The confusion lies in that the 2012 Irish Open will move to being staged from a fortnight after The Open to three weeks before in order not the clash with the commencement of the 2012 London Olympics.
It means a scheduling dilemna for the reigning U.S. Open winner as the June 28th to July 1st tournament will clash with the AT & T Championship at Congressional in Maryland, and where McIlroy captured a first Major.
Rory McIlroy - Will he turn his back on the 2012 Irish Open to return to Congressional?
“I haven’t made a decision yet where I am going to play that week,” he said.
“That stretch between the U.S. Open and The Open is the only stretch in the first part of next year I have not decided on.
“I don’t know what will work better for me playing links golf before The Open or playing in the French Open or the Scottish Open.
“It’s a tough one and I know I need to decide what I am going to do because the people in Ireland want to see me play in the Irish Open and if I don’t play I know there will be a lot of comments.
“But I am very conscious that the Irish Open needs home grown support. It needs that support to guarantee the future but then Congressional will always have so many happy memories for me.
“It’s something I know I have to decide on.”
Although McIlroy did confirm he will commence his 2012 season joining Tiger Woods and young Aussie sensation with Woods and Day both new additions to the January 26th starting Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy’s first tournament in the States and again as a full PGA Tour member will be the February 20th commencing WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
“I am starting my 2012 season in Abu Dhabi and then I’m having a week off before playing in Dubai,” he said.
“I won’t start up in the States to late February for the Match-Play Championship in Arizona.”
And McIlroy has as well revealed a heavy schedule in the lead-up to Christmas.
The current World No. 2 will fly to Tokyo on Monday for an exhibition match with Ryo Ishikawa and then compete in next week’s UBS Hong Kong. He will be joined in Dubai by new girlfriend and World No. 1 tennis ace, Caroline Wozinacki in the following week’s Dubai World Championship.
McIlroy will then be contesting the December 15th commencing Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok and his final event of the year.
He travels to Manchester on December 22nd for the naming of the BBC Sports Star of the Year award and will then spend Christmas with his family before travelling with them on a family holiday in Thailand.
And on the horizon early in 2012 is a hopeful visit to either Vietnam or Cambodia as part of his role as an ambassador with UNICEF.
Earlier this year, McIlroy delighted in visiting earthquake ravaged Haiti.
“It’s something I am still genuinely involved in and I’m trying to work out when is the best time to undertake another visit for UNICEF,” he said.
“I’ve informed them I would love to visit either Vietnam or Cambodia and do something in either of those countries for the under-privileged.”
McIlroy is this week on Hainan Island for this week’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup where he again teams with fellow U.S. Open champion, Graeme McDowell and as representatives of Ireland.
It didn’t take Rory McIlroy very long to warm-up ahead of his first look at this week’s Blackstone course on Tuesday morning.
After a 90-minute session in the gym and then two stretches on the range with a long iron, McIlroy pulled out a wedge and slammed his very first practice ball into the 100-metre sign.
He then joined Ireland team mate, McDowell for a 9-hole front ninepractice round on the leading course among 10 golf courses on the massive Mission Hills complex.
The Blackstone course is unique having been built out of volcanic rock and first impression is it’s a cross between the Maderia’s Porto Santo course and a number of the Hawaiian courses.
There’s many holes that require a long carry over the rock to the fairway and when McIlroy and McDowell do make their way from tee to fairway it’s often along a path carved out of the volcanic rock.
Even the starter’s hut and houses lining the course are built from the 10,000 year old volcanic rock while the hotel features two mini volcanoes made of the volcanic rock featuring water slides and where guests can climb inside the volcano and emerge sliding into the hotel’s feature swimming pool.
And after their successful pairing at last year’s Ryder Cup, McDowell is looking forward to volcanic like effort from he and McIlroy this year after being pipped two years ago by Italy.
“I’m excited to be playing alongside Rory as he’s in great form,” said McDowell.
“He’s the Number Two player in the world and I guess I could say I’ve got a decent partner this week.”
