US Open Champion Rory McIlroy will begin his 2012 assault on America in optimistic spirits after two top five finishes during The European Tour’s desert swing.
The Northern Irishman may have dropped a place to Third in the Official World Golf Ranking following Lee Westwood’s second place finish in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but the 22 year old showed glimpses of that irresistible talent saw him conquer America last year with his eight shot US Open victory at Congressional.
And, with Westwood hitting top form, World Number One Luke Donald back in action this week and Number Four Martin Kaymer showing similar signs of top form to McIlroy, the Northern Irishman is looking forward to being part of the European elite in America over the coming weeks.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said McIlroy, ahead of next week’s WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
“The Match Play is a nice event and a really nice course. I haven't played that well there the last couple of years, so it will be nice to go and get a run in that.
“Playing the desert courses in Abu Dhabi the Dubai will help going into that. It gets cold in the mornings in Arizona so the ball doesn't go quite that far but it can go a long way when it warms up. I got on a nice run there in 2009, the year Ogilvy won it, and it will be a nice change to match play because we don’t get to play it that much.
“I am happy with the way the season started. I usually start the year off pretty well but I feel like I've taken big strides this year in my game and the way I'm swinging the club. My consistency is improving all the time, as well. I had two top fives in the desert and to do that having off-form weekends is not bad.
“It’s good to know I can get these results when it is not quite there. I think it will still take a few weeks until it feels completely comfortable but I’m definitely on the right track. Hopefully there will be a day where it just all clicks and it comes easy to me.”
McIlroy is looking forward to the next American chapter of his career, but said he would not be looking to make the USA his home just yet.
“I don’t have a house in America and I don’t think I will be getting anything permanent there for a while. I am just going to rent somewhere for a few months until we come back to Europe in May.”
