Capelle On Golf

The golf world was suitably impressed with young Rory McIlroy’s first performance on American soil at the WGC Accenture Match Play last week. As you’ll recall, the 19 year old from Northern Ireland finished 5t after losing 2&1 to Geoff Ogilvy, the new king of match play.

Still, even as the week concluded, some questioned his lofty WGR ranking (he’s #16) because he’s yet to earn a point in a stroke play event on US soil. But the doubters may need to rethink their position in light of his record over the last 16 weeks:
4t – 2t – MC – 3t – 5t – 46t – W – 5t

That’s six top fives in his last eight starts! And apparently his game travels well because those top fives came in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, the Middle East (2), and the US. That’s a pretty good imitation of the globetrotting Gary Player.

According to McIlroy, “I just want to try and get in the top 10 in the world and see how it goes from there.” He could get his wish as soon as this weekend at the Honda Classic.

The field for the Honda is relatively weak as only seven of the top 30 players are competing. Sergio Garcia (#2), Camilo Villegas (#9), and Ernie Els (#14) are the only players ahead of McIlroy. So, if he were to win and earn at least 40 WGR points, which is very likely, McIlroy would jump over at least six players into the top ten. Those half dozen include Els, Anthony Kim, and Kenny Perry.

Should McIlroy win and secure an exemption for the PGA Tour, he might rethink his plans to join the US tour in “two to three years.” Let’s hope so, because if he’s the “real deal” as so many experts believe, the European Tour’s loss would certainly be our gain.