McIlroy sets himself a major goal within four years

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
World number nine Rory McIlroy is targeting a major victory within four years. Twelve months ago the Holywood (Belfast) star was aged 19 years and 273 days when he landed his first European Tour title by winning the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Since then McIlroy has collected 11 top-10 finishes on the circuit, including eight in his last nine events, and was second to Lee Westwood in last season’s Race to Dubai money-list.
"I am gaining experience every year and by the time I'm 24, 25 I will have played in 20, 25 majors ... so hopefully by then I should know how to finish them off," said McIlroy in reference to winning majors.
"That's the ultimate goal ... to win a major championship and try and become the best player I can be."
McIlroy said he had learnt a great deal since making his Dubai breakthrough.
"I've gained a lot of experience since I won here last year and I've put myself in a lot of great positions to win golf tournaments," added the 20-year-old ahead of defending his title at the Emirates this week.
"I haven't quite finished them off but I've learnt from those experiences and feel as if I'm a more-rounded player. I feel as if when I get myself into those positions now that I feel a lot more comfortable in final rounds and final groups."
McIlroy burst on to the international scene in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie where he finished as leading amateur when Pádraig Harrington claimed his first major. Since then his best display in a major was a share of third place in last year's US PGA Championship.
"When I look back on the last 12 months it has been very satisfactory," he said. "It was a year when everything was new to me. The majors were new and the World Golf Championships were new and I felt as if I handled it pretty well. I've gained a lot of experience in them and I feel the experience will help me a lot this year and hopefully I'll perform even better in them." McIlroy begins the defence of his Dubai title on Thursday and is joined by fellow Irishmen; Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin.
Stephen Deane is the ninth Irishman in the field after the Co Down native, who is one of the resident teaching pros at the Emirates Golf Club, won the UAE regional qualifying open.
McIlroy also told the Associated Press today that he wants golf authorities to reconsider their new regulations on the shape of grooves in clubheads.
"I don't see why they don't firm greens up and get the rough longer to bring scores down (Editor: I think he means push the scores up). They can make golf courses a lot tougher and turn 20-under winning scores into 12 under."
The USGA and The Royal & Ancient in January introduced rules designed to prevent tour professionals from putting excessive spin on golf balls when playing out of long, rough grass.
The measures have been greeted with mixed reactions and confusion on the US PGA and European Tours. Phil Mickelson has found a way around the ban on "U"-shaped grooves by playing with a 20-year-old Ping wedge.
US Tour player Scott McCarron has claimed that it's "cheating" to use them.
The new regulation shrinks the volume and softens the edges of the club head grooves. Mickelson was among at least four players at Torrey Pines last week who used the Ping wedges, which have square grooves.
The Ping wedges made before April 1, 1990, are approved for competition because of a 1990 settlement from Ping's lawsuit against the USGA.
McIlroy says he would prefer other ways to make golf more difficult rather than tampering with club design.
But the 20-year-old acknowledged that more difficult scoring conditions at professional tournaments could cause golf to lose some spectator appeal.
"When I turn on the TV and I am watching a tournament, I don't like to see guys struggling for pars all the time," he said. "I think people like to see birdies as well."