McIlroy set for US Tour return
But rather than spinning out thousands of words on Tiger Woods’ return to PGA Tour action following a 12-week injury lay-off, fingers bashed away to hail the almost certain return of US Open champion Rory McIlroy to the PGA Tour fold next season.
The news was greeted with glee by PGA Tour headquarters, who will now have the perfect poster boy to do battle with Woods during a 2012 season that will see them conclude multi-million dollar TV contract negotiations with the US networks.
But it’s also a major sea change for McIlroy, who made no secret of the fact that his recent break-up with childhood sweetheart Holly Sweeney and the increased attention he receives at home has been a factor in his decision to seriously contemplate rejoining the PGA Tour just eight months after abandoning ship, citing homesickness and FedEx Cup apathy.
As US Open champion he has become the target of paparazzi in his native Northern Ireland and further afield and that factor, combined with his belief that the US Tour is better suited to his game, has already seen him consult estate agents in Florida.
“I spoke to a couple of the guys from the PGA Tour today about it, and I’m leaning towards taking my card up again definitely,” said McIlroy, who is believed to be involved in a burgeoning romance with the Danish world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
“I feel as if I play my best golf over here. I’m very comfortable in this country. I’m going to look at a few houses down in Florida after the (US) PGA.
“I might go and stay with G-Mac (Graeme McDowell) for a night at Lake Nona and see what that’s like and then down in West Palm Beach and Jupiter, around there.
“I’m definitely looking towards coming back and playing a full schedule over here.”
Asked if the changes in his personal life at home in Belfast had been a factor, McIlroy said: “Maybe a little bit. Definitely”
He added: “Things have changed a bit over the past month or two and I just want to try and play a bit more over here and not be tied to one place.
“Belfast is always going to be my home but at least when I play in the Middle East at the start of the year I can come over to the States and stay for two or three months until after the Players.
“There is a bit of attention on me now after winning the US Open and everything but it’s a great position to be in and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
As for his new romance, McIlroy did not confirm that he was seeing Danish tennis star Wozniacki but explained that the person was high profile and that media scrutiny is something they will just have to live with.
He said: “I think the person that I’m holding hands with, we’re both in a position where there’s a high level of scrutiny and it’s just something that you have to deal with.
“It’s not something that’s ever going to go away, or I hope it doesn’t go away because it means that I won’t be playing good golf. It’s going to be part of my career now.”
Sources at McIlroy’s management company, ISM, said: “It had a little bit to do with Holly and getting away from the pressure of being a superstar in Northern Ireland. His game is more suited to the States as well.”
McIlroy said he began thinking of rejoining during the Open where he complained about the weather and said he couldn’t wait to play in sunny conditions in the US.
“I feel as if my game really suits playing courses over here. I love Quail Hollow, Memorial, Akron,” he said, adding that he was still undecided on whether or not he would add the Players to his schedule after skipping the self-style Fifth Major this year.
“You play Match Play, Honda, Doral, Masters. You have your favourite events, and most of my favourite events seem to be on this side of the pond and my game suits it over here. I’m very comfortable over here. I’d like to give it a go again and obviously last more than one year and really see how it goes.”
Commenting on McIlroy’s likely return to the fold, the PGA Tour’s Chief of Operations, Andy Padzer said: “Rory is an immense talent and for a person to win the US Open by eight shots, he certainly captivated fans in the US and frankly around the world.”
Padzer added that McIlroy will not be punished in any way for giving up his PGA Tour card last year but must inform the tour of his decision to rejoin by November 22.
“He is a member in good standing and would be obligated to play 15 tournaments or more in 2012,” Padzer said.
McIlroy said he would have to change his schedule slightly by adding more American events but would never give up playing the Irish Open.
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