Ireland McIlroy shows promise and looking for No.1 title before 2016


 HAIKOU, China -- American pair Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar shot a strong 67 to win the 56th World Cup of Golf on the Hainan Island, China on Sunday.

The duo finished the tournament on 24-under-par 264, two shorts clear of Germany and England, who were tied second.

And the competition favorites Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were tied for fourth with Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands a shot further back.

Korean pair Kim Hyung-sung and Park Sung-joon, carded a four-under 68 on the final day of the competition to finish shared ninth place with 269.

After a see-saw front nine at the Mission Hills club in Haikou, the Americans took the lead with four birdies in the first nine holes, and despite a bogey at 11th they added two birdies to win the title and also $2.4 million in prize money.

While Ireland’s present and past U.S. Open champion McDowell and McIlroy, who started two shorts ahead of the Americans, wobbled a little in the front nine with bogeys on the first and sixth hole, and eventually finished with a disappointing 72.

English duo Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, who posted a 68 on the third round, had quietly moved up the leaderboard on the final day with a brilliant 63 with eight birdies, a bogey and an eagle.

A 72 was not the kind of score that the world No.2 McIlory had expected. But despite the Sunday’s poor performance, McIlroy is still considered one of the most eye-catching young golfers worth attention. The 2011 U.S. Open champion had put up a good game against top golfers across the world.

Until Saturday, McIlroy, partnered with Graeme McDowell for Ireland, shot an 8-under 64 to lead the 28-nation event by two shots after the third round.

Playing for the first time here on the Hainan Island, the 22-year-old proved that he will be one to dominate the headlines for the next few years.

And there is no doubt he will be a genuine gold medal contender in 2016, when golf returns as a medal event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Asked whether he has an eye on the 2016 Games, he said: “I think it’s a big goal of anybody who in whatever given sport you play. It would be great fun.”

But McIlroy admitted he needs to focus on improving at the pro tournaments beforehand.

“It’s still four years away, I have to get 2012 out of the way first,” he added.

McIlroy, who turned pro in 2007, won his first major title in June and become a No. 2 in the world golf ranking after finishing tied for 4th at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai earlier this month.

McIlroy said here he was happy with his progress this year, but admitted he still has a long way to go to take over Luke Donald and reach No. 1.

“He has played incredible golf this year, and is deservedly No.1. I’m going to have to keep up my good play if I’m going to catch him,” he said.

McIlroy still has a few events to play before closing the 2011 year calendar. He is scheduled to play in next week’s UBS Hong Kong before heading to Dubai World Championship. He will then contest the Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok on Dec. 15.

“I’ll try and play well in those, and give myself a foundation to kick off 2012, and maybe that will be enough to overtake Luke at some point,” he added. 

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)