GOLF:RORY McILROY admitted yesterday the reaction to comments he made about choosing who to compete for in the 2016 Olympics is making him think again.
The world number one had said he was leaning towards representing Team GB rather than Ireland because “the fact is I have always felt more British than Irish”.
It brought criticism from some, mainly because he received funding from the Golfing Union of Ireland before turning professional in 2007.
As an amateur he did not have to make a choice because, as in rugby, Northern Irish golfers play for Ireland.
The 23-year-old will not have to make a decision until just before the Rio Games, but said in Atlanta yesterday: “After everything that happened last week it definitely makes me reconsider my position and reconsider a lot of things.
“I think it just really hit home with me how important it is for a lot of people and how important my success has been to them. Obviously, I’ve had a lot of support from all sides – from people that call themselves Irish, from Northern Irish, to the whole of the UK, to people over here in the States.
“It just hit home with me at how my success is welcomed by everyone. It would be terrible for me to nearly segregate myself from one of those groups that supports me so much.
“It’s four years away – I still have a bit of time to decide. But, I’m very, very appreciative and very grateful of the support that I get from everyone.
“It’s great that I get so much support. There are not many people in my position that have to go through what I might have to go through in four years’ time, but it is what it is.
“I’m a golfer first and foremost and I just want to play well on the golf course. Hopefully people enjoy that and the entertainment that that brings.”
McIlroy has shown the esteem in which he holds Tiger Woods by firmly dismissing any notion that the American is “really intimidated” by him.
Greg Norman had offered that sentiment as McIlroy, the world number one, and Woods, the number two, prepared for their latest outing together at East Lake, for the culmination of the FedEx Cup, which begins today. McIlroy quipped: “He [Tiger] has got a new nickname for me actually. He calls me ‘The Intimidator’.”
“No. How can I intimidate Tiger Woods? I mean, the guy has got 74 PGA Tour wins and 14 majors. He’s been the biggest thing ever in our sport. How could some little 23-year-old from Northern Ireland come up and intimidate him? It’s just impossible. I don’t know where he got that from, but it’s not true.”
Woods, who is known to have a frosty relationship with Norman in any case, was unwilling to be quite as open on the subject. “It’s got to be the hair” was all Woods would offer on the concept of McIlroy getting inside his mind.
Intrigue surrounds the blossoming relationship between McIlroy and Woods, this FedEx finale aside. The pair have grown close recently, as will be displayed over the first 36 holes in Atlanta.
“Every time that we get paired up, I’m obviously very excited about it,” McIlroy said. “It’s a great buzz. You’ll have to ask him if he feels the same way but for me it is very exciting.”
After three of the four FedEx play-off events, Woods is leading the chasing pack behind McIlroy, who is looking to continue a superb finish to the season in the final tournament by claiming the $10m (€7.7m) on offer for the play-off winner.
There is the looming prospect of box-office golf at next weekend’s Ryder Cup, should Woods and McIlroy be drawn as singles opponents. Woods described the idea as “fun”. McIlroy added: “It’s about the team, about the 12 guys as part of the European team and the USA team. It’s not about one guy playing another guy.
“Of course a lot of people would like to see it. But I just want to win as many points as possible for Europe and that’s all I can really do. I’m not going to sit here and lie, saying I wouldn’t enjoy it, because I would. But I think it’s up to the captain to decide where I play. Whatever decision he makes is good with me.”
The FedEx Cup
The permutations
Rory McIlroy will win if . . .
– he wins the Tour Championship
– he finishes ahead of Woods, Watney, Mickelson, Snedeker
– has a reasonable chance of winning with a top-five finish
– can finish as low as 29th and still have a mathematical chance of winning
Tiger Woods will win if . . . .
– he wins the Tour Championship
– has a reasonable chance of winning with a top-three finish
– can finish as low as a five-way tie for fifth and still have a mathematical chance of winning
Nick Watney will win if . . .
– he wins the Tour Championship
– has a reasonable chance with a second-place finish
– can finish as low as fourth and still have a mathematical chance of winning
Phil Mickelson will win if . . .
– he wins the Tour Championship
– has a reasonable chance with a second-place finish
– can finish as low as third and still have a mathematical chance of winning
Brandt Snedeker will win if . . .
– he wins the Tour Championship
– can finish as low as tied-second and have a mathematical chance of winning.
(Any of the top five will win the FedEx Cup with a victory. The remaining 25 can still win, depending on the performances of the top players)
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP: The lowdown
Course: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia
Prize money: €6 million (€1.1 million to the winner). $10 million bonus payment to FedEx Cup winner.
Length: 7,154 yards. Par: 70. Field: 30.
The layout: East Lake is the traditional ending to the US Tour season with the Tour Championship. In 2007 all the greens were changed from Bentgrass to Bermuda. The 520-yard par four fifth is considered by many to be the toughest hole on the US Tour and the closing three holes are also very difficult making this a demanding, heavily undulating course.
Last year: Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan tied at eight under resulting in the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup being decided by a play-off. Haas produced the shot of the season at the second extra hole from a greenside water hazard to save par. He beat Mahan with a par at the next.
Type of player suited to challenge: The fairways are tough to find so accurate drivers will do well. Those grinding out pars should be in contention.
Key attribute: Accuracy.
Weather forecast: There was heavy rain earlier in the week but clear skies and sunshine is expected.
On TV: Live on Sky Sports 2 from 6pm today.
Time difference: Georgia is five hours behind Ireland.
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