Golf:Rory McIlroy feels ready to make a better start to 2012 than his girlfriend. At the Australian Open tennis, Caroline Wozniacki's quarter-final defeat to Kim Clijsters has cost her the world number one spot. McIlroy kicks off his season tomorrow at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he is paired with Tiger Woods and world number one Luke Donald on the opening two days.
The 22-year-old US Open champion has finished 11th, fifth, third and second in the event the past four years and would love to see that improvement continue. “It’s a golf course that I feel suits me,” he said today. “Maybe doesn’t suit me as well as it does Martin Kaymer, but I’m getting there.”
The German, out later in the first round with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, has won the title two of the past three years and three of the last four.
“It’s a great way to start the year and I’m excited to get the new season up and running,” added McIlroy, who practised with Woods for nine holes yesterday. “It was good. He seems like he’s happy with everything — I know he’s definitely happy that he feels like he’s back to 100 per cent fitness, which is great for him.
“He hit a lot of good shots out there, so I think he’s worked hard in the off-season and looks like his game is in pretty good shape. It’s definitely not a quiet way to start the year. You’re playing with two of the best golfers in the world in the first two days and you’re up against one of the strongest fields probably that will be assembled this year.
“You want to try and get off to a good start, so you want to try and play well, but obviously the majors have that little bit extra.”
Westwood will be delighted to start 2012 as he ended 2011, winning in South Africa and Thailand either side of the Dubai event. “The most pleasing thing was about four weeks prior to that I started working with Phil Kenyon, my new putting coach,” said the world number two.
“To shoot 62 around Sun City and then 60 and 64 around the course in Thailand you need to start making a few 15-footers, which I’ve been missing for the previous 17 years! Once they start going in all of a sudden you turn what would be a good round of 65 into a 60 or 62.”
Westwood’s main aim for the season, of course, is to try to end his wait for a major.
“I think it’s very difficult to win a major without making a few (putts) that are surprising or bonuses, so if I can start rolling in a few 25- to 30-footers that’s obviously going to make a massive difference. The difference with Phil is that my practice is a lot more structured and based around drills to make sure that I do the same thing over and over again.
“And other than saying that I’m not answering any more questions on putting. It helps your whole game. It gives you confidence — if you start making putts that you have not been making then it takes the pressure off your long game.”
