2015 Honda Classic Preview: Leaderboard
By Brian O’Hare
WORLD NO.1 Rory McIlroy makes his 2015 US PGA Tour debut at the Honda Classic this week to start a campaign he hopes will culminate with a Green Jacket in April.
The 25 year old is settling in comfortably as the new face of golf and after winning the final two Majors of 2014 is aiming to complete the “Grand Slam” at Augusta National.
He arrived in the US after winning on the European Tour in Dubai last month and finishing a close second in Abu Dhabi the week before.
With a certain high profile American golfer at home licking his wounds, the Northern Irishman said he was comfortable stepping into the limelight.
“Yes,” he said when asked if he willing accepted all the added public exposure. “Because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I would be wasting my time if I was out there practicing as much as I do and putting as much into it if I didn’t want to be in this position, and wasting the people’s time around me, as well, that helped me get to this point.
“Of course I want to be that guy.”
He was also confident his dream run could continue to the Masters and beyond.
“I’m in a great position and I feel like I handle the position I’m in a lot better than I did a couple of years ago,” he said. “I’ve got more experience at it. I’ve spent well over a year of my career at world No. 1, so I’m pretty used to it by now.”
McIlroy is by far the leading light at the 2015 Honda Classic at the PGA National (Champion) course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida this week.
A number of others, including new dad Adam Scott are holding out for the prestigious World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in Doral next week.
McIlroy’s record here is indicative of his career. He won in 2012 to become world No.1 for the first time, then a year later after his big equipment change and other issues, walked off in the second round after some erratic play citing a “toothache” (to some derision). He bounced back last year, losing a sudden death playoff to this week’s defending champion Russell Henley.
Rory McIlroy 2015 US PGA Tour Debut Video
Other featured golfers this week include Phil Mickelson, looking to improve his putting after missing his past two cuts, Sergio Garcia, still talking positively after bogeying the final two holes to not win the Northern Trust Open, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell and Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson.
There are just two Aussie golfers in the field, Robert Allenby and Marc Leishman, whose best effort here in five appearances is 17th.
2015 Honda Classic TV Times
Live Fox Sports coverage begins Friday 6am – 10am.
2015 Honda Classic Leaderboard
2015 Honda Classic Leaderboard