Rory McIlroy Comes Out Swinging In Abu Dhabi
By Les Bailey
Sep 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Rory McIlroy hits his second shot on the thirteenth fairway during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy looked pretty tired, and ready for some down-time when he finished kicking our tail in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, and with all the expectations that will surround his 2015 season, one had to wonder of he would come out flat in Abu Dhabi, or not.
After what I saw this afternoon in the tape delayed airing of the first round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, I think the expectations may come to reality.
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Playing alongside his buddy, Rickie Fowler, and Italian, Matteo Manassero, Rory matched Fowlers five under par 67 on a pristine day in the desert. Unfortunately, they trail a red-hot Martin Kaymer by three strokes at the end of the day.
Starting their day on the back nine, Rory birdied the first hole, made his only bogey of the day at 17, making the turn at even par.
The 25 year-old Northern Irishman had the rust scraped off, and put on an exhibition coming down the stretch, with a five birdie performance. He didn’t get all of those monster drives in the fairway, but he got it done with laser-guided iron shots, and was rolling the rock with the best of them.
When he did get into trouble as he did here on the third hole(his 12th of the day), not only did he hit a miraculous escape shot, he turned it into a birdie. Such is the magic of Rory McIroy.
New year, same old @McIlroyRory magic! http://t.co/KlalV8K4vJ
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2015
The broadcast team in Abu Dhabi was making fun of the goals for the year Rory has written, and put in his wallet. The youngster is not divulging these goals, but you have to think the 2015 Masters is at the top of the list.
If he can pull off a win at Augusta, he will join an élite list of players who have completed the career slam, and finally claim the Green Jacket that eluded him in 2011.
Last years goals included six world-wide wins, and one major. He missed the total wins mark by only two, but I’m almost sure that putting two majors on his résumé makes up for some of the agony.
His win over Irish buddy, Shane Lowery at the BMW Masters in Virginia Waters last May got the ball rolling that went on to include wins at the Open Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, and the PGA Championship in consecutive starts. That’s a career for some players.
If his new 2015 goals are any loftier, it may be hard to replicate the magic of 2014, but if anyone can do it, I thinks Rory McIlroy is your man.
McIlroy has 21 Professional wins, with 18 of them coming on the PGA and European Tours and include four major championships. He has yet to meet the success, and notoriety enjoyed by Tiger Woods, but he is gaining ground.
If he can add to the wins totals, pick up another major, and remain the world’s number one for the season, he will be making up some ground on his predecessor. A win at Augusta in April, would go a long way in making up that hallowed ground.