GIVEN HIS endearingly mop-topped combination of jauntiness, natural charisma and respectful politeness that is a credit to his rightfully proud parents, it has never been hard to like and admire Rory McIlroy. But this past week that already less than onerous task got even easier.
On top of the prodigious physical gifts that produce his beautifully natural and rhythmic action and a subsequent array of shots superior to perhaps everyone except that Tiger fellow, the Belfast boy revealed a powerful strength of character that can only augur well for his future.
Against the advice of his manager and at least three vastly more experienced players, the 20-year-old officially announced his intention to join the PGA Tour next year.
"I want to challenge myself against the best," confirms McIlroy, who today may well become the winner of the inaugural "Race to Dubai" and so don the mantle of Europe's number one golfer for 2009. "The only way to do that is by playing in the best fields possible. I think I'll become a better player by playing a bit more over there. I'll be playing with better players and obviously you can learn a bit from that."
While duly respectful and betraying not a whit of boastfulness, that is a comment containing more than a hint of steel. This, one suspects, is a man with the self-belief to not only take on Tiger but, at least occasionally, beat him. To which the world's best player will no doubt counter: "bring it on."
Anyway, starting at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in February, McIlroy will play a maximum of 17 times on the PGA Tour next year. His schedule contains only blue-chip tournaments like Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Invitational, Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, the Players' Championship, the three US majors, the World Golf Championships and, providing he plays to his own and everyone else's high expectations, the four Fed-Ex Cup play-off events. Over that feast of goodies he will sprinkle a few visits to the European Tour that will remain his home.Jay Busbee compiles "The 10 Worst Golf Chokes of the 2000s"
Connell Barrett (golf.com) writes a, almost funny, "Top 5 'Seinfeld,' 'Curb' golf Moments" tribute.
Jason Sobel (ESPN.com) tweets:
@JasonSobel Lee Westwood called his Dubai win "the biggest moment of my golfing career." Bigger than those missed putts to join playoffs at two majors?
