McIlroy under the microscope

ERNIE Els, Pádraig Harrington, both three times major championship winners, are here. So, too, Lee Westwood, the European number one and three other members of the world’s top 10 including Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

However, when the €4.5 million BMW PGA Championship gets under way over the much altered and improved West Course at Wentworth this morning, most eyes will assuredly be on a 21 year-old from Holywood, Co Down who in a short but glittering professional career has won one tournament on the European Tour and another in the United States.

For Rory McIlroy, a golfer blessed with a swing and public persona to die for, goes into the championship as one the favourites along with Ernie Els, the man who has redesigned the West Course over the last 12 months, to claim the first prize of €450,000 and further improve his current 9th place in the world rankings.

McIlroy has yet to display the consistency levels that have caused many observers, rather prematurely perhaps, to compare him with Tiger Woods at the same age but it can only be a short measure of time before he adds to his victory in the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic and the Quail Hollow Championship in the United States three weeks ago.

Twelve months ago, McIlroy jumped into contention for the coveted title with a third round 65 before eventually finishing 5th on his own but is even more enthused about his prospects this week because of his liking for the drastic overhaul of the golf course masterminded by Els.

“Ernie has won many times around here and I definitely think the changes have been for the better,” he said. “It’s a lot tougher and the bunkers are very deep. There are a couple of things here and there that I think are a bit severe but I think he’s done a really good job.”

The par of the West Course has been reduced from 72 to 71 but that’s all in the semantics. With water hazards having a greater influence than ever, the winning total will still be relatively high in spite of probably the strongest field ever assembled for the championship. And few go into the field with a greater degree of confidence in his own ability largely because of his victory at Quail Hollow highlighted by a remarkable 10 under par closing round of 62 than McIlroy.

“It was fantastic and afterwards I received messages from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros,” he said. “That made me realise how special Quail Hollow was. Jack and I had lunch earlier in the year and he told me to be courageous. In his message he reminded me to remain patient but told me: ‘that was just outrageous‘. And he said that he looked forward to seeing me at his own tournament at Muirfield Village.

“I’ve only briefly met Arnold. It was at the 13th at Augusta and I hit a nice five iron in front of him on to the green. And he just said congratulations and also said he looked forward to seeing me at his own tournament at Bay Hill next year. So I’ll have to play there as well.”

It really is difficult to get one’s head around the fact that two of the game’s legends are so taken by a 21 year-old from Ireland. That’s the way it is, though, although you suspect that McIlroy was even more impressed at hearing from Seve Ballesteros, another of his idols growing up but who is currently fighting a desperate battle with brain cancer.

“It was a very touching letter and was the first I actually received,” said McIlroy. “He came from a very European perspective. He wrote that it was great what I had done, to win over in America so early. Of course Seve did it over there as well. He talked a little about the Ryder Cup and the European Tour and of how proud he was of all the young players coming through.

“Yeah, it was very touching. He’s been going through a very difficult time. For him to take the time out of his life to write me a nice letter like that was fantastic. It’s also fantastic to be able to spend time with men of their stature. Between them they have, what, 26, 27 major championships so they know what they are doing. I suppose I’m in a very privileged position. Not a lot of people get to spend time with Jack Nicklaus or with Arnold Palmer or get letters from Seve Ballesteros. I really appreciate that they take an interest in my career.”

McIlroy has put all those letters and messages in a very safe place before deciding where they might finish up. Pressed to indicate where that just might be, he flashed that engaging smile of his and replied: “They are in the process of being framed along with the 18th flag at Quail Hollow. They will probably hang in my downstairs bathroom. When people go in there, they can see what I’ve done.”

Reacting to the surprised expression on several faces, a blushing McIlroy quickly stressed: “Not in that way.”

McIlroy has such an engaging way about him that nobody could take offence at whatever slips he might make. And, bear in mind, he is still only 21!