East Lake, Atlanta. GA … Rory McIlroy says he will be delighted to let FedEx Cup front-runner Dustin Johnson absorb much of the heat over the opening rounds of the Tour Championship season-ending showdown in Atlanta.
For a first time in many years, the fate of the FedEx Cup is out of his hands with McIlroy No. 6 on the money ranking.
Johnson leads into the 2015/16 curtain closing event and with the next four – Patrick Reed (2), Adam Scott (3), Jason Day (4) and Paul Casey (5) – each being in position to be handed the FedEx Cup by winning the Tour Championship.
“Mathematically I know I can win the FedEx for what will be a first time as long I win the Tour Championship and Dustin doesn’t finish second on his own,” said McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy gets his back nine under way Wednesday as long-time coach, Michael Bannon and fitness coach, Steve McGregor (shorts) look on. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“So if I take care of my job then yes, I have a good chance.”
McIlroy’s best finish in the Tour Championship was T2nd in 2014 while he was 14th a year ago and then shared 10th place on debut in 2012.
“It’s just so nice being back here as I’ve been coming to this East Lake course for a few years now with the only exception of not being position to win the FedEx Cup being last year,” he said.
“On the other two occasions I was leading the FedEx points list but ended-up not winning the Cup
McIlroy drives off the 580-yard par five 18th hole on route to an eventual eagle during his Wednesday practice round. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“So maybe this could be a good omen this week that I am not leading and I can sort of sneak-up a little bit on Dustin and the other four guys ahead of me.”
But then McIlroy put a finger what he believes has hurt him in the past and that’s poor last rounds including posting a 74 on day four a year ago, 71 in 2014 and a 74 on the final day in 2012.
“This is my fourth time here at East Lake and while I’ve finished second here two years ago I need to figure out have to avoid having a bad last day,” he said.
However, if the manner he played the final hole in practice yesterday (WED) is any indication McIlroy could be in for a good week.
McIlroy hitting a 6-iron into the par five 18th at the East Lake GC. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The downhill par five 18th with a second shot over water was playing 580-yards and with McIlroy laying-up short of the water with a monster drive and then after being given the yardage by long-time coach, Michael Bannon he put his 6-iron from 223-yards out to some 15 feet and rolled-in the eagle putt.
In fact, McIlroy had played nine holes Wednesday morning in sauna-like conditions in the company of Bannon and fitness coach, Steve McGregor before taking lunch and then breezed through the back nine mid-afternoon.
And there was the sight of the last of McIlroy swapping putters with Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas.
McIlroy mobbed after his round by East Lake autograph hunters (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
But not that McIlroy’s needs a new putter given a strong practice round showing with this new ‘Scotty Cameron’.
McIlroy will play the opening round of the final event of the PGA season alongside Paul Casey and the player he defeated three weeks ago in Boston.
But then last fortnight in Indianapolis, and with McIlroy was running on the smell of an oily rag, Casey took on Dustin Johnson down the stretch to grad his second straight second place finish and take his earnings in two events to well over Euro 1m.
Casey’s currently fifth on the FedEx Cup points table and with each of the leading five in place to be handed the FedEx Cup with victory in Atlanta.
.. and McIlroy ends his practice round being handed a gift by a Mexican TV reporter ahead of next year’s WGC event in Mexico.
