McIlroy Expects Better Short Game, Putting After Eye Surgery

McIlroy is playing his first tournament of 2016 – after a gap of nearly two months since winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November – and he was relishing the prospects of being pushed into a pitched battle straightaway. “Shorts are a natural evolution to help modernise the game. We will have strong rules, but there will be some fashion statements, and it’s a great start”. Some members-only courses have strict no-shorts rules.

It may appear to be a fairly insignificant move but in a time-honoured sport which is shaped and governed by tradition, the allowing of shorts is a notable change.

Golf returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 this summer and has provoked a mixed reaction, with former Masters champion Adam Scott openly admitting it is not a priority and Rory McIlroy sounding lukewarm about the prospect.

Euro Tour chief executive Keith Pelley appears ready to let his players wear shorts during practice rounds, in part, spurred on by the Malaysian heat last week at the EurAsia Cup. “I probably just need a couple more weeks in the sun to get my legs out in public, that’s what it is sort of pale Irish skin doesn’t go so well”. “Irish skin doesn’t go so well….”

McIlroy, who is paired with Spieth for the early round at Abu Dhabi, believes that could give him a better chance going to Augusta National in April.

“So look at Tiger (Woods), Phil (Mickelson), Rory (McIlroy), these guys that have done more in the game of golf than I have, and I want to strive to get to what they have done”.

“So it would be foolish of me to think that that’s all that my competition was, because I think it would be an injustice to every other player that’s in the field”. England’s Matt Ford said he felt like a naughty schoolboy for turning up in shorts.

Eager to get back to number one. “Make it more fun (for) everyone”.

“Why not?” said McIlroy.

Spieth joked back, “He’s one very good player that I could have taken out of the field”. And most of the guys that are really talking highly of it are the older guys oddly enough.

“Obviously we are not going to go out in shorts at the British Open or The Open Championship if it’s 10 degrees and raining”. Poulter plans to wear them in the Wednesday pro-am.