World No. 6 Rory McIlroy was still beating the same tune but now on ceremonial Chinese battle drums ahead of this week’s BMW Masters in Shanghai.
McIlroy joined fellow BMW stars Henrik Stenson, Peter Hanson and China’s Ashun Wu at a spectacular launch at the famed Bund in the heart of Shanghai. The four firstly gathered in the Mandarian International Hotel where they tried their hands at beating the drums before being invited to each open a China fortune cookie.
McIlroy then left the hotel to head to this week’s host Lake Malaren course for the first of two pro-am’s this week while Stenson, Hanson and Wu headed down the riverfront to try their hand at a nearest-the-pin contest that Hanson won.
Rory McIlroy beating the same tune on Chinese battle drums at a function to preview this weeks BMW Masters in Shanghai. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The double Major winning Major arrived in Shanghai having finished runner-up in last week’s Kolon Korean Open, arriving in Shanghai late on Sunday night from Seoul.
The effort was McIlroy’s best finish since he stormed to second in the Valero Texas Open and a best finish after birding the closing five holes to capture last year’s European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
And that will be McIlroy’s same tune this week, striving to win for a first time this season. It was the second occasion he had finished runner-up in the Korean Open that prompted him to remark:
“I’ve now been second twice in the event and it’s about time I knocked off victory the next time I play the tournament.”
Hanson has hopefully fought off his on-going back injury that forced him out of the recent Seve Trophy and looks forward also to a hopeful first victory toast this season.
The man defending the title, meanwhile, is looking forward to trying to keep his hands firmly on the trophy.
“The victory last year was special,” said Hanson.
“To go up against Rory when he was World Number One and playing the best golf in the world at that time was something you don’t get the chance to do that often, and to be able to sneak ahead of him to take the title was awesome.
“I am looking forward to getting back to Lake Malaren. The BMW Masters is one of those tournaments that everyone wants to be a part of. You are playing on a great golf course against so many of the top players in the world and that is where you want to be competing.
“The golf course sets up well for an exciting tournament. It is quite wide open so you can really go for it off the tee and give yourself an advantage to then get it in close on the green and make birdies. I think that is what people prefer to watch and you certainly get the chance to do that there.”
