Lefty praise for McIlroy

PHIL MICKELSON singled out Rory McIlroy for praise ahead of the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

The duo are paired with Korean PGA winning sensation, YE Yang for the opening two rounds of the inaugural $7m (€4.7m) World Championship event,

McIlroy has arrived in China ranked 18th in the world but it wasn’t just his accomplishments on the golf course that have impressed Mickelson.

“I am a big fan of Rory’s and for two reasons,” said Mickelson.

“One, he is incredibly talented. I played behind him in Doral earlier this year and I saw him play some amazing shots. At his age, at any age, his skill level is incredible.

“But more than that he is a wonderful individual. I’ve enjoyed being around him. He treats people incredibly well and he’s a tremendously nice person who I like being with.”

McIlroy’s priority in Shanghai is to finish the season as European number one. He currently lies third, €165,044 behind table-topper Lee Westwood, with both players also entered in next week’s UBS Hong Kong Open before the final dash for the cash in Dubai.

“These are three very important weeks coming up obviously because I am about €165,000 behind Lee, so I’ve got to make-up a bit of ground up,” McIlroy said.

“I never imagined I would be challenging so soon for the number one title because after securing my card in 2007, I finished the order or merit last year in 36th and that was only after a good second half to the season.”

Pádraig Harrington’s task remains much tougher than McIlroy’s, if he is to capture a second European crown.

Harrington has just two Race to Dubai events counting if he is to unseat Westwood and the other 16 players ahead of him on the money list.

Harrington insisted: “I’m not into pressing any panic buttons and besides I can’t complain because I’ve had a few good months golf. But I would like to win this week. What I can’t do is go out there and push, I have just got to let it happen”.

Shane Lowry makes up the Irish trio contesting the event and the reigning ‘3’ Irish Open champion was spotted on the Sheshan range yesterday practicing not far from Tiger Woods.

“This is the second time this year I’ve played in the same event as Tiger, as I also competed in the Bridgestone Invitational in August which he won”, said Lowry. “The buzz around him this week compared is just amazing. But it’s just nice to be here and another one of my rewards in winning the Irish Open, so hopefully I can play well”.