Rory McIlroy will spice up Irish Open 2012
Rory McIlroy has decided to take part in the Irish Open this year and will miss another prestigious event instead, the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club.
McIlroy’s decision to prefer the national event to Congressional Country Club must have come as a surprise to his fans, as this is where (Congressional) he rose to fame after winning the US Open.
The 22-year-old Northern Irish stunned the golf world in the 2011 US Open, when he stormed to an 8-shot victory at the Congressional Country Club.
Now that McIlroy has made up his mind about giving the Irish Open a try instead of playing on his best course, despite his remarkable performance in the US Open, it is clear that Northern Ireland will gain a huge boost in terms of prestige.
The Irish Open is scheduled for June 28 to July 1, while the AT&T National too is going to take place in the same week at the Congressional.
Despite all the talk of what the young Irishman should have done about the two important events taking place in the same week, McIlroy has plausible reasons to favour his birthplace.
"There has been a lot of speculation on whether or not I will play the Irish Open next year, so I am happy to announce that I will definitely play the tournament," the US Open winner said during an interview after grabbing the title at Hong Kong Open.
McIlroy admitted that Irish Open has been one of his most favourite events, as it is associated with his country.
"For me the Irish Open has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most important events on the global golf calendar. It's our national open and it's obviously a title that I would love to win at some stage in my career," he said.
Although McIlroy will pay some price by not participating in the AT&T National, the amazing thing for him is that Congressional Country Club will be hosting the event for the next 3 years, which means his chances to play on his best course are good.
Irish Open will definitely be given a major boost because of the presence of the world number three.
Arguably, major championships like the US Open or the Masters typically reel in massive fanfare and sponsorships, as they feature big names in golf.
However, events like the Irish Open should not be underrated just because they do not feature prominent faces.
It is true that the Irish Open has been underrated mainly due to the participation of lesser known names. Now, with McIlroy’s presence, the event is set to add some shine to its fading image.
Another glaring aspect is that the underdogs (new players) will have ample opportunities to hone their skills, as they come face to face against the world number three.
According to some, with his decision to take part in the Irish Open, McIlroy has proved he has not lost faith in the European Tour, despite his willingness to affiliate himself with the PGA (Professional Golf Association) Tour.
When asked about his plans to receive the PGA Tour card, the Northern Irishman said he definitely wants to take the card but it will not take his mind off the European Tour.
However, he dispelled confusion and concerns about his fading interest in the European Tour, vowing that his schedule with the European Tour will remain intact.
Tags: