MASTERS DIGEST:RORY McILROY is still troubled by a back injury, yet the 20-year-old Ulsterman believes that competing in what he calls his "favourite golf event of them all" will provide the inspiration not just to kick-start his season but to challenge strongly for a maiden major.
“No, it’s not 100 per cent,” admitted McIlroy of his niggling injury. “I am just going out and playing golf. It is a bone stress injury so it is something that won’t heal for three to six months at least.
“I have done a lot of 3D analysis and (the results show) swinging a golf club or playing doesn’t hinder the healing process. I am not worried. I went for a scan before Houston and it is getting better all the time.”
McIlroy has slowed a bit this season, after starting with two top-six finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai back in February. Since concentrating on the US Tour, he was a second-round casualty in the Accenture Matchplay; finished tied-40th in the Honda Classic, and tied-65th in the WGC-CA, and he missed his first cut in 11 months in last week’s Houston Open.
Since then, McIlroy has spent a lot of time working with his coach, Michael Bannon, and claims to be hitting the ball better.
“I feel more comfortable in the bigger tournaments. I struggle to get myself up for other events, but I feel I can really concentrate and get myself into these events a little easier than a Houston Open or a Honda Classic.
“I feel as if, on tougher tracks with better fields, I can do better. I suppose I am wanting to do well in the majors and it’s obviously the ultimate goal of any golfer.”
Chairman Payne offers some words of advice about sincerity
THE rebuke, when it came, had a real edge. Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, lauded Tiger Woods as worthy of mention with the likes of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, but didn’t hide his displeasure at Woods’ failings away from the sport.
In his chairman’s conference yesterday, Payne remarked: “He forgot to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility. It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here; it is the fact that he disappointed all of us . . . . our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.
“Is there a way forward? I hope yes. I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change.
“I hope he now realises that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.”
Chairman Payne offers some words of advice about sincerity
THE rebuke, when it came, had a real edge. Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, lauded Tiger Woods as worthy of mention with the likes of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, but didn’t hide his displeasure at Woods’ failings away from the sport.
In his chairman’s conference yesterday, Payne remarked: “He forgot to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility. It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here; it is the fact that he disappointed all of us . . . . our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.
“Is there a way forward? I hope yes. I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change.
“I hope he now realises that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.”
Nicklaus still sets standard
He’s known as the Golden Bear, but Jack Nicklaus should also be considered the golden standard, at least in terms of interviews.
On Tuesday, Nicklaus met the media for 45 minutes – even though the moderator tried to wrap it up after the allotted 30 minutes.
No other player came close to holding court for that length of time that day.
Scribes not expecting much from you-know-who on return
JUST three of 57 golf writers polled by the Augusta Chroniclehave picked Tiger Woods – the clear favourite in the betting – to win this week.
Pádraig Harrington earned most votes with 13, followed by South African Ernie Els with 10, England’s Lee Westwood with seven and American Steve Stricker, the world number two, with five.
Second-favourite Phil Mickelson received only three votes as well, as did Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen.
The writers were also asked to predict whether Woods would win, finish in the top-10, make the cut or miss the cut.
Including the trio who tipped him to win, 26 went for top-10, 25 to make the cut and six to crash out after two rounds.
Kim booked for Adare
JP McMANUS, who got a bear hug from Tiger Woods on the practice range on Tuesday afternoon, is compiling quite a field for his charity invitational pro-am at Adare Manor in July.
The latest big name to sign up for the two-day, 36-hole tournament is world number 14 Anthony Kim, winner of last week’s Houston Open.
The 24-year-old American joins a star-studded line up for the pro-am which already includes Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Dustin Johnson, Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy.
Irish at the Masters
Pádraig Harrington
2000 76-69-75-71 (291) Tied-19th
2001 75-69-72-71 (287) Tied-27th
2002 69-70-72-71 (282) Tied-5th
2003 77-73 Missed cut
2004 74-74-68-72 (288) Tied-13th
2005 72-77 Missed cut
2006 73-70-75-74 (292) Tied-27th
2007 77-68-75-73 (293) Tied 7th
2008 74-71-69-72 (286) Tied 5th
2009 69-73-73-73 (288) Tied-35th
Rory McIlroy
2009 72-73-71-70 (286) Tied 20th
Graeme McDowell
2005 79-70 Missed cut
2009 69-73-73-69 (284) Tied-17th
