McIlroy switches focus to World Cup

AFTER the excitement of the Race to Dubai and Lee Westwood’s successes on Sunday, the attention switches to the World Cup of Golf which starts Thursday at the Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

As Ireland’s highest world ranked player (6th), Pádraig Harrington could have led his country’s challenge but instead handed the opportunity to Rory McIlroy (10th) and he chose fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell as his partner. They are quoted second favourites at 5/1 behind England’s Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter, (4/1); ahead of holders Sweden (Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson), (6/1); Spain (Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernadez Castano), (9/1); and Australia (Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby), (10/1).

McDowell made his debut in the event last year alongside Paul McGinley (they finished 16th) but his form of late has been disappointing. He is 51st in the world rankings, one place outside those receiving an invitation to next year’s Masters at Augusta.