McIlroy wins, gets sharp for Augusta

SAN ANTONIO - Rory McIlroy’s last-minute, last-ditch effort to right his game in time for the Masters has taken a trip to a usually out-of-the-way spot on the PGA Tour. McIlroy and three other top players from the world ranking start play in the Texas Open on Thursday at TPC San Antonio.

“It obviously was a last-minute decision to come and play here in San Antonio,” McIlroy said after his pro-am round Wednesday was washed out by rainstorms on his 13th hole. “But from what I see, I like it. It should be a good week, a week where I can try to get my game sharp going to Augusta.”

Big-name players don’t often seek the Greg Norman-designed Oaks Course at TPC to sharpen their games.

Last year, only two members of golf’s top 50 (no one in the top 15) played on a course that ended with the highest overall scoring average on tour except for the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. In addition to McIlroy, the Texas Open has attracted Matt Kuchar (No. 9), Ian Poulter (No. 12) and Charl Schwartzel (No. 15). Ben Curtis, 2003 British Open winner, is the defending champ.

McIlroy’s play since he won the PGA Championship by a record eight-shot margin in August has dropped him a spot, from No. 1 to 2, while Tiger Woods went back to the top after three wins.

McIlroy started the year with new equipment. He swings the same brand of clubs as Woods, but he hasn’t produced the same game. He missed the cut at Abu Dhabi, walked off the course as defending champ at Honda and got beat in the opening round of the Match Play Championship in Arizona.

“I don’t care if I miss 10 cuts in a row - if I win a major,” McIlroy said. “I don’t care. I mean, that’s what it’s all about, winning the big tournaments.”

McIlroy comes to San Antonio for the first time, and he’s coming off his second made cut of the year, a 45th-place finish at the Houston Open. Though notables like Woods and Phil Mickelson aren’t attracted to the TPC course as a Masters prep, other players who have come here share McIlroy’s view of getting in one more competitive event and dismiss his recent skid.

“All Rory has to worry about is peaking the right weeks,” said Padraig Harrington, also in the Texas field. “His game is plenty good enough that when he does peak, he can lap fields.”

AP