McIlroy looking to conquer Hong Kong
Rory McIlroy hopes to claim his first European Tour victory of the year this week at the Hong Kong Open, an event in which the 21-year-old has finished as runner up in the past two years.
Though McIlroy currently holds the world No. 10 ranking, and has been a fixture in the top-10 for much of the year, the player from Northern Ireland has only won once in 2010, when he took victory at the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour. But McIlroy has decided to turn his back on the PGA Tour next year, opting to focus on success in Europe.
McIlroy can still make his mark on the European Tour this year of course, either in Hong Kong or at next week's Dubai World Championship. The Holywood lad has won in Dubai before, claiming his only European Tour victory to date at last year's Dubai Desert Classic, but McIlroy can taste success before next week's sun-baked season-ender with a good performance this week at the Hong Kong course.
And talking to the the press on the eve of the Open, McIlroy told reporters that from now on, he planned to play only the tournaments he enjoyed.
"I found out a lot about myself in America last year," said McIlroy. "I found out that the places that you like to go to has a lot to do with [personal happiness]. There is no point playing a tournament that you don't want to be at.
"I am trying to pick and choose events where I am happy in the places I am, that I want to be there and want to give it a go. This week is a good example - it is one of my favourite events of the season. UBS have been sponsoring it now for a while, and they put on a great show."
McIlroy also backed his friend and Ryder Cup partner Graeme McDowell to win the Race to Dubai. The Ulsterman has already matched current leader Martin Kaymer in winning a major this year; McDowell won the US Open, while Kaymer triumphed at the PGA Championship.
But Kaymer's four victories on the European Tour mean the German is currently more than half a million Euros ahead of McDowell, with just two events to go before the end of the season. Nonetheless, McIlroy believes his fellow countryman can edge out Kaymer to top the money list, citing his own experience.
"I was chasing Lee [Westwood] here this time last year and I finished second and went above him," he said. "It was nearly a bad thing though because when you are chasing, more than likely all you think about is trying to win tournaments.
"Graeme has been playing great, Martin has as well, but I think Graeme has got the edge a little bit. He is finishing strong and hopefully he can go and do it."
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