Masters champion Rory McIlroy has spoken glowingly in regards to the Australian Open forward of his sandbelt comeback this yr, revealing new explorations might be key to rediscovering his mojo amid a post-Augusta haze.
Since slumping to his knees on the 18th gap, tears streaming from his face as he lastly accomplished the profession grand slam by amassing his maiden inexperienced jacket in April, McIlroy has failed to fireplace as a significant champion ought to.
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The world No.2 has delivered only one top-10 end in 4 occasions because the Masters, two of which have been majors, ending up in a tie for nineteenth because the world’s finest gamers battled the course and the weather at Oakmont Nation Membership in final week’s US Open.
Loads have instructed that by reaching his personal private Mount Everest in taking the coveted trophy at Augusta, McIlroy was left with no extra {golfing} mountains to climb.
The Ryder Cup in September looms massive as Europe look to topple the USA on dwelling soil however McIlroy, who took a break after the Masters and has been detest to speak a lot about his future plans, slotted in a return to Australia for the Open at Royal Melbourne in December and pointed to it now being a key entry on his calendar.
McIlroy mentioned taking the chance to discover the world of golf, reasonably than be drilled down on PGA Tour ambitions, may present him the enjoyment he’s on the lookout for in a profession that already sits alongside among the finest ever.
“I’ve at all times wished to go to India, and the European Tour and DP World created a brand new occasion there,” he mentioned forward of the Travellers Championship, the final of eight PGA Tour Signature occasions for 2025.
“I used to be requested initially of the yr would I be desirous about going, and I mentioned ‘yeah, that sounds superb’.
“The Hero Indian Open is like March-April time. I’d like to play DLF (Golf and Nation Membership in India) and work out my approach round that place, however this one in Delhi in October made extra sense.”
McIlroy then turned his consideration to his Australian go to and mentioned recollections of taking part in the Australian Open as an novice twenty years in the past, then successful it in 2013, made him enthusiastic about his return the place he’ll be the headline act because the occasion returns to a stand-alone males’s match.
“I’ve at all times beloved the Australian Open,” he mentioned.
“I’ve received there earlier than. I performed there as an novice within the Australian Open, certified for it, went via a qualifier in 2005, obtained via like a nine-man playoff to get in, so I’ve at all times had an enormous affinity for that a part of the world.
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“So to return, particularly Royal Melbourne this yr, Kingston Heath subsequent yr, two of the perfect golf programs on the earth on the sandbelt, that’s superior too.
“It’s that a part of the yr the place we have now the flexibility to journey and to do this stuff, and if it is sensible for the schedule – there’s by no means been a inexperienced jacket in India earlier than, so to carry the inexperienced jacket to India is one thing that’s going to be actually cool.
“To return to the Australian Open, I received that in 2013. Adam (Scott) and I had an amazing battle down the stretch on the final day, he was the Masters champion at that time.
“I don’t know, I wish to journey. I wish to play in numerous elements of the world. I haven’t been to Australia in 10 years, so it’s good to return to those locations.”