McIlroy confident of challenge

Rising Irish star Rory McIlroy believes he can be a contender for victory in the South African Airways Open starting at Pearl Valley today.

The 18-year-old former amateur world number one only turned pro in September this year but has already made his mark on the European Tour.

He finished third at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October and followed that up with a fourth-place finish at the Madrid Open a week later to secure his card for the 2008 season.

Now McIlroy, who hails from Holywood on the North’s east coast, is determined to succeed and turn those impressive finishes into something better in what is his first professional event in South Africa.

“My goal for this year is definitely to try to convert some of those results and go out and win,” he said.

“But I’ll just take this week as it goes. I’m playing nicely so if I can just go out and play my normal game and hole a few putts, I should get quite close.”

McIlroy is also hoping events like these will help him gain the necessary experience he requires to get to the top.

“If I can keep playing the way I am and put myself in a position to do well, I think it will only be a matter of time and a matter of experience to know how to win,” he added.

“So as long as I get myself in contention going into the weekends, then hopefully one good weekend and that could be it.

“This is my first year out on tour, so I don’t really know what to expect. I just want to go out and play well and see how I finish up.”

As for the notoriously difficult Cape winds, McIlroy said: “I think they’re predicting high winds for the next couple of days, but I think that will suit me because I’m from Northern Ireland and it’s usually windy there as well.

“But in saying that, the course is fantastic – it’s probably the best course I’ve played in South Africa.

“It’s really nice, the greens are good, and it’s a good field, so I’m looking forward to it.”