McIlroy: Has His ‘Down Under’ Taste Buds Taken A Lift Since Last In Australia ?

1 hour ago by 0

Grand Slam winning hero Rory McIlroy has returned to Australia for a first occasion in a dozen years since his dramatic 2013 Australian Open triumph in Sydney.

McIlroy is in Melbourne for the 108th hosting of Australia’s premier golfing event that six-time former tournament winner Jack Nicklaus once described ahead of the teeing-up in the 2016 Masters, as golf’s fifth major

McIlroy touched down in Australia’s Garden State after the long-haul fight from the States as not only the reigning Masters champion but also the games sixth Grand Slam winner.

The World No. 2 got a first look at Royal Melbourne on Monday, playing a very leisurely few holes on the famed Alister MacKenzie designed layout, long ranked No. 1 in Australia.

Suprisingly, the Australian Open is being staged for a long overdue first occasion since 1991 on the composite course where competitors tackle 12 holes of the West course and six over the East course at Royal Melbourne.

McIlroy made his Australian Open debut in 2006 teeing-up as a 17-year-old amateur at Royal Sydney, finishing well down in a share of 59th.

Seven years later he returned to Royal Sydney and a second Australian Open having captured two major championships and 11 other worldwide wins however also having dropped from World No.1 as the start of 2013 to No. 6.

As well, McIlroy had not tasted success anywhere in 2013 while he was naturally anxious in his two remaining events of the year to get the ‘W’, so as to continue an unbroken run since he maiden pro win in 2010 of winning at least one event a year, every year he’d been a pro.

McIroy’s downturn in 2013 season form was also being somewhat blamed for his switch earlier in the season in joining Nike Golf.

So there was much to talk about when McIlroy arrived in an already jam-packd, make-shift media centre that was laid out on a tennis court at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.  I was one of those in attendance and with McIlroy’s presser looking much akin to a packet of the very popular ‘Snakes Alive’ – these vibrant-looking, fruit-flavoured jelly snakes that came in six different colours.

McIlroy arrived in the company of his manager, Sean O’Flaherty and was welcomed by the long-time Australasian Tour Press Officer, Kathy Shearer.  Kathy was just excellent in dealing with the players no matter their rank in the game while always mindful of the needs of the media and on the lookout for those mischievous members of the press, including this writer and keeping them in their place … smiling adding this.

Adam Scott was the tournament’s big drawcard having in April become the first Aussie to win The Masters though there was no denying McIlroy’s appeal of a still a young-looking, freckle-faced golfer now minus the curly hair and very much the great new kid on the international golfing block.

However, if there was a question to McIlroy at this pre-2013 Australian Open press conference that really have everyone at ease, it was a question right out of left field when asked if liked the famed Aussie meat pie.

What then followed was priceless.

“I don’t mind the meat pies but just can’t get used to vegemite, so it’s definitely an Australian acquired taste,” he said smiling.

“Russell Crowe’s always been my favourite Australian actor and my favourite all-time Australian golfer is Greg Norman.  Being a multiple Major winner and a former World Number One, The Great White Shark will forever be remembered in the game.

“Aside from his great golfing achievements, Greg (Norman) is a hugely successful businessman off the course. Not many golfers have successfully made that transition.

“I know Greg also has won the Australian Open many times and that is my goal this week.

“So to win the Australian Open would be huge for me.  It would stamp my place in the history books of the Australian Open alongside people like Greg, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and so many other great players.

“And following in their footsteps would never be a bad thing.”

Following in the footsteps of Greg Norman, Nicklaus and Player McIlroy completed the 2013 Australian Open birdieing the closing two holes and coming from one behind overwhelming crowd favouite Scott to win by a shot after the reigning Augusta champ bogeyed the last.

McIlroy said of his first win just a month shy of 2014: “There was a lot of criticism at the start of the year when I switched to Nike. This win should silence any further criticism.

“To take down someone of Adam Scott’s calibre, the Masters champion and one of the best players in the world, is a nice feeling. I’ve said all along it’s about building back the confidence and I’ve been gradually achieving that.”

McIlroy admitted also he has learned valuable lessons from a testing 12 months when he had slumped from first to sixth in the world rankings against a backdrop of an equipment change and a legal battle with his former management company.

“I think I’m more experienced, more patient,” he said when asked what he had learnt this year.

“You know you have to go through the lows,” he added. “And I’m not saying it was a low this year, it’s not like I plummeted off the face of the earth. I’m still sixth in the world so it’s not too bad. It’s not the level that I feel like I can play to but I feel I’m getting back there, so it’s very pleasing.”

So, it’s been a long wait till this week and for McIlroy’s return to Australia.  He returns a Grand Slam champion and as the reigning Masters champion as well as a seven-time DP World Tour No. 1 and the winner of 45 global tournaments.

I wonder if he’s got used to eating what is described as ‘The health food of a nation‘ – Vegemite while another topical question to McIlroy would be his view now of Greg Norman, post Norman’s involvement in the formation of LIV Golf.

We may find out when he speaks to the media following Wednesday’s Pro-Am round at Royal Melbourne.

 



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *