News: TOUR Notes

January 16 2012

1:30 pm

McIlroy announces schedule

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Rory McIlroy will make his PGA TOUR season debut at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Feb. 22-26.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

On Monday, Rory McIlroy announced via Twitter what the early part of his 2012 season will look like — and it will look identical to 2011.

The reigning U.S. Open champion will begin his year at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Jan. 26-29 before playing in the Dubai Desert Classic two weeks later. McIlroy will then make his TOUR season debut at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship Feb 22-26 in Arizona followed by The Honda Classic a week later.

After that McIlroy plans to play the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship March 8-11 and then the Masters April 5-8.

McIlroy was last a member of the TOUR in 2010. He made 16 starts that year and it’s expected he’ll make a similar number of starts this year while retaining European Tour membership.

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  • Jim Stats

    So, so far, this is how many points each player will be playing for before the Masters
    Lee_: about 362 points or
    Rory: about 310 points

    Luke, Martin, Stricker and the rest of the top10 players have not published a preliminary schedule.

    Tiger’s only announced two tournaments for the year, but he will likely play for something around 300 to 360 points before the masters.

    Interesting to see Simpson at #6, one spot above Adam Scott.

  • Eric Rose

    I am trying to see how this is news, but I fail to see it. Most guys like Donald, Westwood, McIlroy that play both tours have the same schedule. Donald is seen more than the other two though.

  • Brian Thomas

    I hope that Rory does not fall between two stols by playing both tours

  • John

    Is Rory committed to play Congressional?

  • Peter Kessler

    Rory is committed to his National Open the week of June 28.

  • Jake

    He’s gearing his schedule around the 4 majors now, look at that break before The Masters! He’ll win it this year, and I can see him winning Dubai too.

  • mike miller

    With his high ball flight, I reckon Rory will do better in the USA than in Europe.

    Also, given Tiger’s demise, the PGA Tour needs charismatic and talented youngsters to help build its future viewership and sponsorships. Rory is surely the best of gen-next.

  • Peter Kessler

    I am hoping that the gallery behaviour doesn’t get out of hand where Rory is contending. This season is going to provide some very intense competitions, I pray that people avoid the hooligan stuff.

  • DOB

    mike i didnt realize you were on the rory wagon as well….. you said rory has a high ball flight? his demise will be he cannot shape shots…… mike stricker does not have half the talent that tiger woods have and he is giving the youngs guns a run for their money still, do you really think at 36 tiger have lost all his charism? come on lets be realistic now

  • sandbelt

    the 2 best golfers of the last 50 years are jack and tiger.

    they are far ahead of the competition. it is very unlikely that anyone else will get to 10 majors in the near future.

    of the new generation, rory has the best chance to be the next superstar.

    facts, not fiction.

    what’s the argument?

  • hao

    SANDBELT he doesn’t like playing when it’s cold or windy,he allready proved he is capable of choking under pressure, he seems to get a little nervous when the girlfriend is around. and he still has to overcome your other star simpson.he has never met tiger at full health and the last time he heard the noise from tigers gallery at the masters he crapped his pants,you might think thats a recipe for greatness but not me.cheers

  • Eric Rose

    I don’t think Rory is playing but about five or six more tournaments than he did last year in the U.S. anyway, so what is the big deal about him having a card? At least until the playoffs begin.

  • sandbelt

    December 28th, 2011 5:14 am

    OK, LISTEN AND LISTEN GOOD.

    ANYONE WHO THINKS WEBB SIMPSON IS A ONE SEASON WONDER HAD BETTER BE PREPARED FOR A LETDOWN.

    THIS GUY IN HIS THIRD FULL SEASON ON TOUR WON TWICE AND WAS SECOND THREE TIMES. THAT SHOULD BE 3 WINS AND 2 SECOND PLACINGS. IN 26 EVENTS HE HAD 12 TOP TENS, FINISHED SECOND ON THE MONEY LIST AND MOVED TO 10 IN THE WORLD. IN HIS 3 APPEARANCES IN MAJORS HE MISSED ONE CUT AND FINISHED TIED 14 AND 16 IN OTHER TWO HE MISSED JUST 3 CUTS. HIS SCORING AVERAGE WAS 69.16 IN 2011 WHICH PUT HIM IN SECOND PLACE.

    WEBB SIMPSON IS 26 YEARS OLD. WEBB SIMPSON IS THE ONE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR THE USA.

  • MIKE MILLER

    January 1st, 2012 10:14 pm

    Sean, you’re right. If Noh gets a bit of killer instrinct and Bae strings 4 good rounds together more often, both are top10 material.

  • MIKE MILLER

    January 1st, 2012 8:25 pm

    Agree Day is not arrogant. Had a very difficult childhood to overcome and is now more centred and flying up the rankings. He’ll win plenty more, maybe even a major or two.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 30th, 2011 1:35 am

    I reckon when people reminisce in 10 or 20 years’ time about the 2011 season, the 3 big events in men’s golf that will be recalled will be: Schwartzel birdieing the last 4 holes to win at Augusta, Rory annexing the US Open by a street and Tiger’s gradual comeback. Nobody will recall what Luke achieved, so I’d award the title to Rory, narrowly over Schwartzel (top 16 in all 4 majors) & Donald.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 23rd, 2011 4:15 am

    Guys who haven’t played a full schedule on the PGA Tour in recent years are actually most of the best players in the world: McIlroy, Poulter, Westwood, Kaymer, McDowell, Oosthuizen, Schwartzel – just to name a few. They’re not so much flash in the pan as what I think of a ‘global players’. Fortunately for the PGA Tour, at least Westwood & McIlroy will play the minimum number of events in 2012. Maybe more

  • sandbelt

    two questions for the famous hao.

    of the current crop, who has the best chance of winning multiple majors?

    who is leading the charge for the usa?

    i say it’s mcilroy and simpson.

    what do you say?

    and let’s not be evasive, ok? cheers.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 23rd, 2011 9:08 pm

    Many guys who have had a Major within their grasp, who fail to close it out, never recover and never win one: Van de Velde, Bob May, Chad Campbell, Bjorn, Westwood, Sabbatini, Barnes, Bubba, Garcia, Rocco & Kenny Perry to name just a few examples off the top of my head. This makes Rory McIlroy’s ‘comeback’ win in the US Open all the more meritorious. And at age 22!

  • hao

    SANDBELT= TIGER +TIGER

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 24th, 2011 8:36 am

    Gail, I totally enjoyed Tiger’s win in the Chevron. Like many serious analysts, I suspected it was coming. However, don’t kid yourself that it was a strong field; the best in the world, including Tiger’s heir apparent (Rory) were plying their trade in Sun City and Hong Kong that week.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 23rd, 2011 8:10 pm

    Sean, love your work! My database, which includes all significant tours back to 1999, suggests Zach has had just 9 pro wins. But I never covered the Hooters or similar, lesser, tours. I’ll always have a soft spot for Zach as I backed him at 190/1 in The Masters when he held firm down the stretch and outlasted Tiger. However, he plays target golf, like most americans, so cannot develop into the modern global player like McIlroy, Westwood, Tiger, Poulter, Casey, Kaymer, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Garcia and their ilk. Among americans, Dustin, Fowler, Van Pelt, Woodland and Mahan look the best prospects in this regard. Two of them won in Asia recently and Mahan / Woodland were terrific in the World Cup in Shanghai.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 25th, 2011 10:37 pm

    Tiger won just 1 Major in 2007 and his last in 2008. That’s 2 Majors in the past 5 seasons. Despite his recent issues, perhaps the writing was on the wall 5-6 years ago? Winning more than one Major is a high quality achievement in this competitive environment with so many quality opposition players and only the elite win more than two in their entire careers: in recent decades only Tiger, Phil, Padraig & Vijay. Will Bradley be the next? I don’t think so and to me Rory looks the most likely next great Major champion. The only other players in their 20′s who look as though they might chellenge Rory for Major greatness are probably Dustin & Kaymer – and they’re both 5 years (or 20 Majors) older than McIlroy!

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 25th, 2011 5:17 am

    Dave, it’s interesting to me that virtually NOBODY wins The Masters without having previously had a bit of form there. This knowledge enabled me to successfully back Immelman, Zach & Cabrera in recent years at long odds. With KJ having ‘served his apprenticeship’ on the course and then improving to 4th & 8th the past two years, and in the form of his life, he just might be the one in 2012! I’d love to see him in a Green Jacket after backing him at 60/1 or so!!

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 22nd, 2011 9:02 pm

    Gail, you’re deluded! How dare you compare Dustin, who, although a fantastic and exciting player to watch, is nowhere near the ability of Rory McIlroy. And Rory is 5 years younger than DJ! LDJ choked on the big stage at age 27 and still hasn’t got over it. Rory choked on the big stage, at age 21, and then answered the critics by annexing the US Open. He’ll win plenty more majors too.

  • sandbelt

    excluding tiger (and jack).

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 28th, 2011 8:14 pm

    Some players who might have a chance to make the top 25 here next year if they continue on with their recent great form: Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell, Kyung-Tae Kim, Sang-Moon Bae, Ian Poulter, Camilo Villegas, Seung-Yul Noh & Louis Oosthuizen.

  • MIKE MILLER

    December 28th, 2011 6:30 pm

    cdub, I took the time to read Webb’s career record before my original post and I stand by precisely what I wrote. for your edification, here it is again, “Webb Simpson is a worthy #3 if his ranking is based on his form after July 2011. Prior to that he was an unknown journeyman, a mediocrity even, for three years. We’ll find out soon whether he’s truly stepped up to the next level or if he merely enjoyed a few good months in an otherwise unremarkable pro golfing life.”

  • Re: HAO

    “he seems to get a little nervous when the girlfriend is around”

    Funny you should say that HAO because he won the first event she ever went to see him at.

  • RECENT FORM

    Last 8 events:

    3-3-2-2-1-4-1-11

    2 wins
    7 top 5s

  • hao

    SANDBELT you might have wrote off tiger but I have not, when he’s finished will be happy to up date my replacements. why don’t you ask MIKE the same question he seems to mention a few players going forward, maybe the whole tour? cheers

  • hao

    recent form, iam so happy for you and him…please put your money on him and help build the price for mine.

  • sandbelt

    hao, i asked you not to be evasive!

    c’mon, it’s not hard, just give your opinion on who is the best chance of the current crop to win multiple majors and who is the american leading the charge. excluding tiger.

    i have not written off tiger, although i don’t think he will catch jack in majors. if i’m wrong then i’m wrong.

    as i have posted earlier, i think he is heading to abu dhabi to show who is top dog. whether he can do it or not is another story. i wouldn’t be shocked if he won.

    your faith in tiger is admirable. if he is REALLY back or not, only time will tell.

  • RE: HAO

    Hao, please respond to me with your logic

  • McIlroy will win more majors than Tiger

    Take that, Tiger fanboys.

  • Haha

    How easily do people forget that Tiger played a full healthy season in 2009 and didn’t win a major.

    3 years and 7 months since last major win, and counting.

  • hao

    SANDBELT you asked the questions not me. o/k I dont believe anyone can win multiple majors outside of tiger as this present time,iam a fan of westwood who I hope can capture 1 or more to cap of a great career,donald is consistant without major…Mcilroy can win again under right circumstances…kaymer similar..Mcdowell is o/k yanks probably mahan..woodland..s/africa schwartzel,thats about it for the main events.australians zero.

  • sandbelt

    fair enough hao.

    westwood deserves a major, donald might win one or two (this us open at olympic should give him a shot).

    agree kaymer and mcilroy will win again but think g mac fluked his.

    schwartzel for sure, i think he is very much underrated.

    woodland is a maybe but must improve his putting. mahan is a big under-achiever in my opinion, considering his ability he hasn’t delivered on the big stage.

    hard to see an aussie winning unless day gets hot, scott and his putter are a worry.

    colsaerts is my bolter.

  • Just Stating Facts

    McIlroy lowest round in each major:

    Masters: 65
    US Open: 65
    the Open: 63
    PGA Championship: 67

  • Just Stating Facts

    Rory McIlroy currently has 24 straight rounds at par or better on the European Tour.

  • Just Stating Facts

    McIlroy is one of only 3 players in history to win over €3 million in a European Tour season on multiple occasions. He has achieved this as a 22 year old.

  • Just Stating Facts

    Rory won the equivalent of $5.11 million on the European Tour in 2011, which would have been good enough for a position of 4th on the PGA Tour money list.

  • Just Stating Facts

    Rory McIlroy has made his last 28 cuts on the European Tour, and has missed only 3 of his last 66 cuts. This dates back to 2008 when he was still a teenager.

  • James

    Rory must win on us tour this year or he is a bust. I hope he does.

  • gail

    What a joke…”Rors” has won what, 3 times in 100 starts and where he plays is news? I’m more concerned with where Stricker or Wagner is playing, as they have a better shot to win big events when you look at their recent performances. McIlroy’s recent performances are losses. I know this is big in Ireland, as there’s absolutely no chance (as I predicted a year ago) that McDowell is better than a top 50 player, but until McIlroy wins a little more often, he’ll only be known as the guy who hangs with a real champion, Wozniacki….

  • Brads

    Sandbelt…To answer your question as to which one of the young US crop will have chance to win multiple majors Bradley is the obvious choice…I think HAO would agree… I can’t wait for the match play to see if McIllroy will go up against Bradley…Bradley is the tougher, mentally, of the two…Therefore I’ll put my money on Bradley

  • Sir Shaun

    Anybody that follow’s Rory McIlroy would already know his schedule leading up to the Masters – but I supose the people at TOUR Report have to keep the ignorant and fake Golf fans informed who don’t have a clue what goes on outside Tiger Woods and the USA.

    Gail.. YOUR BACK! I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away for to long. When you say “he’ll only be known as the guy who hangs with a real champion, Wozniacki…” You made me LOL! with that quote, because McIlroy has 1 Major to his name while Wozniacki has 0.. she is’nt exactly a “real champion.” Gail, it’s actually the other way around if you think about it.

  • gail

    Sir Shaun! Great to hear from you, and hope your birthday was terrific. I left for the holiday but got you a day early. Now, concerning the article, my beef is the fact that folks talk about Rory when all he’s done is not much more than what Ben Curtis has done, although Curtis won other PGA events. Same with Hamilton, same with Brooks. Until he does something else, he’s EXACTLY like them! Everyone knows he had a stellar junior career, but he’s with the big boys now, and they’re not interested. remember Erik Compton, the guy with the heart issues? He was the #1 Amateur in the USA, but is fighting to remain on the Tour. That’s what happens to guys like him, McIlroy, and many others who are now languishing on the Nationwide or European Tours….

  • Sir Shaun

    Gail.. I hope you had a nice holiday/vacation. Indeed.. McIlroy, Hamilton, Curtis and Brooks all have 1 Major to their name – but COME ON! Do you really think McIlroy’s career will end up like the other 3 men you mentioned? The simple answer for that is, NO! McIlroy is 22 years old and still improving week by week and he’s also begining to learn the art of WINNING. Gail, like it or not, McIlroy will be a force to be reckoned with over the next 10 to 15 years. Is’nt Erik Compton a full time member on the PGA Tour now? I saw he was playing in the Sony Open this past week.. I admire him a lot for what he’s went through over the year’s with his heart problem’s. I wish him well, if he is a full-time Tour member hopefully he can keep his card or do even better.

  • gail

    Sir Shaun…first of all, Compton made it based on performance on the European…oops sorry, the Nationwide Tour (I forget they’re different sometimes) and now will play full time on the real…oops…the PGA Tour. Rory might be big stuff in the UK, but in the US they consider him to be a more polished version of Peter Uihlein, but maybe not as good, as Peter won a US Amateur at a tough track. I like Rory, but even you must admit he never wins! Top 25′s don’t get remembered in history, but that’s all that “Rors” seems to be able to achieve…..

  • fred

    Peter Uihlein is going great at the moment.

    Bombed out in both European and PGA q-schools.

    Might get a gig in Bolivia.

  • FIGJAM {hof]

    WHERES JUNIOR…been at the station 2hrs and no sign of him. we made a pact no going out early looking for r/cup pnts..think I’ve been STOOGED.. Maybe ring the shark to pick me up ..he allways enjoys a call.!!!!GO BRADS!!!.

  • Sir Shaun

    Gail.. The European Tour is now the breeding ground of Major Champions.. McIlroy, Kaymer, Schwartzel and Oosthuizen are all young Major Champions and are also the STARS of now and the future.. I can’t believe you persist on comparing the European Tour with the Nationwide Tour, it’s ABSURD! A Golfer who has a good amateur career doesn’t always turn out to have a good professional career.. Gordon Sheery, David Gossett and Nick Flanagan just to name a few, had an AWFUL! time of it when they turned pro and basically fell into obscurity and havn’t been heard of since.. I hope the same thing doesn’t happen to Peter Uielein – but he has made a very wise choice to play on the European Tour, he will improve his all round game and shot-making in all different types of conditions from week to week. I expect him to do quite well in the future now. Rory McIlroy’s last 7 starts – T3, 3, 2, 2, T4, 1 and T11.. Gail, it’s more like WINS and Top 5s rather than “Top 25s.”

  • Jake

    Rory hasn’t won enough to be considered great. So far he has had two great performances, 2010 quail hollow and 2011 us open. He has to be more consistent and win more to start being considered the next big thing.

  • tigers blog

    JACK has won 20 Majors.

    I have won 17 Majors, not counting my Chevrons as Majors… but if I don’t catch JACK then I will count them. Then it will be 22 Majors.

    PETER UIHLEIN has won 1 Major.

  • Sir Shaun

    tigers blog.. That means GORDON SHERRY has 1 Major. WOW!

  • Sir Shaun

    SERGIO GARCIA also has 1 Major.. The 1998 Amateur Championship at Muirfield.

  • sandbelt

    don’t forget that aussie who won last year!

    BRYDEN MACPHERSON has won a MAJOR too.

  • Sir Shaun

    Did You Know? Tiger Woods and Gordon Sherry had a £1 bet at the 1995 Open Championship over who would achieve the highest-placed finish.. Sheery won the bet.

  • sandbelt

    did tiger cough up the quid?

  • Sir Shaun

    Sandbelt.. TRUE! have a look on Wikipedia.. it’s quite a compelling list of NEW MAJOR WINNERS!

  • Sir Shaun

    Sandbelt.. I’m not 100% sure if Woods did, if he did, at least Sherry could buy a couple of thing’s with that quid back in 95, you can’t get didly squat with a quid nowadays.

  • sandbelt

    the most unknown major winner has to be john ball.

    9 majors, 1 open championship and 8 british amateurs. of course there wasn’t a pga or masters back then so maybe he did win 9?

    so how come tiger gets to count his 3 us amateur titles plus the other 4 majors? his website says 17 majors.

    as he once said when he went public “i thought i could get away with whatever i wanted to”.

    tiger, you have won 14 majors not 17.

  • Just Stating Facts

    Since their respective Major Wins:

    Rory McIlroy:
    Events 12
    Wins 2
    Top 5s 7
    Top 10s 8

    Keegan Bradley:
    Events 8
    Wins 0
    Top 5s 0
    Top 10s 0

  • Just Stating Facts

    Last 2 PGA Champions records immediately after Major Wins:

    Martin Kaymer: Wins next 2 events.

    Keegan Bradley: Misses next 2 cuts.

  • hao

    steele
    killenn
    kokrak

  • Just Stating Facts

    Total pro wins the day they turned 23:

    Tiger Woods: 8 wins (1 major)

    Jack Nicklaus: 3 wins (1 major)

    Phil Mickelson: 2 wins

    Arnold Palmer: 0 wins

    Tom Watson: 0 wins

    ———————————-

    Rory McIlroy*: 5 wins (1 major)

    *Rory Mcilroy doesn’t turn 23 until May, meaning he has 4 months to try and add to this total

  • Jason

    Hao, good to see even though it’s a new season u r still mired in the past and talking the same old rubbish. U guys are so lucky to have rory commit to your tour, wake up and enjoy it.

  • hao

    JASON I feel so blessed to recieve your comments GOD be with you.

  • Just Stating Facts

    Rory McIlroy: Only player in the world under 30 with a major win, a PGA Tour win and a European Tour win.

    Rory McIlroy has 29 more majors to play in before he turns 30. He has 57 more majors to play in before he reaches Tiger’s current age.

    This means he needs to win 1 out of every 4.38 majors to catch Tiger, the equivalent of an average of just less than 1 a year.

  • DonaldLocken

    Just stating facts….do you ever get bored of stalking rory? It’s kinda creepy.

  • Tim

    So I have to ask why people hate on tiger. Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone.
    Tiger is the best our generation has ever seen. The most complete player on the planet. rory had a ton of skills and putts like a genius, but can’t get out of trouble. I see rory as the arnie of this generation. he will win a ton of tournaments and probably ten majors. But just like arnie had jack looming over him, rory will always fall short of tiger. He will beat tiger 7-10 times in his career, but trust me tiger will get his too

  • Tim

    Sandbelt
    The amateurs don’t count as majors anymore because they are auto qualifiers for the us open, British open and masters. When Bobby jones played they were considered majors though so if tiger wants to claim them as majors, that’s his choice. we are comparing tiger. To jack though and his 18 consist of the masters PGA British and us opens. That is just the common scale. No one will say tiger catches jack with his next win. He needs four to tie and five to win.

  • Just Stating Facts

    1 donald
    2 westwood {one major combined}
    3 Mcilroy

    Tiger woods #20 14 majors

  • sandbelt

    Tim, i am aware that amateur wins in the usa and uk do not count as majors in the modern era.

    so, in this modern era, why would anyone, in their right mind, list these as majors on their website?

    tiger can hardly claim them as majors when he is claiming pga and masters as majors.

    he hardly needs to pump himself up.

  • Tim

    So then upon that logic, if we coun only the opens, is Tom Watson the all time leader?

  • huh?

    Where on the website does this “claim” of majors exist?

  • sandbelt

    huh, click ON TOUR then click TIGER vs. JACK

  • BVP

    All I want to know is
    “What will you do for me today”.
    Yesterday is gone and just a memory. If you want to live on memories…………….go for it.

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