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Rory McIlroy ready to defend Australian title amid dreams of golf's grand slam Rory McIlroy ready to defend Australian title amid dreams of golf's grand slam
(about 2 hours later)
Rory McIlroy has arrived in Sydney to defend his Australian Open crown – but also admits to having one eye on the bigger picture for 2015.Rory McIlroy has arrived in Sydney to defend his Australian Open crown – but also admits to having one eye on the bigger picture for 2015.
When McIlroy arrives at Augusta National for the Masters in April, he will be striving to become only the sixth golfer ever to win all four majors.When McIlroy arrives at Augusta National for the Masters in April, he will be striving to become only the sixth golfer ever to win all four majors.
The world No.1 says the chance to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in his sport’s most exclusive club is something he wonders about “every day”.The world No.1 says the chance to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in his sport’s most exclusive club is something he wonders about “every day”.
“I mean, I guess the next big career goal of mine, it would be to complete the career grand slam,” McIlroy said after Wednesday’s pro-am at The Australian Golf Club, where the serious business of the Open begins on Thursday.“I mean, I guess the next big career goal of mine, it would be to complete the career grand slam,” McIlroy said after Wednesday’s pro-am at The Australian Golf Club, where the serious business of the Open begins on Thursday.
“It’s going to be a great position to be in in a few months’ time, driving down Magnolia Lane having the chance to win my third major in a row and the chance to complete the career grand slam at 25.“It’s going to be a great position to be in in a few months’ time, driving down Magnolia Lane having the chance to win my third major in a row and the chance to complete the career grand slam at 25.
“So I’m going to enjoy it. I know there’s going to be a lot of hype and a lot of talk about it, but I think you just have to embrace that and I’m going to enjoy the week as best I can and make sure that I’m prepared for that week next year.“So I’m going to enjoy it. I know there’s going to be a lot of hype and a lot of talk about it, but I think you just have to embrace that and I’m going to enjoy the week as best I can and make sure that I’m prepared for that week next year.
“It’s going to be tough for me. The Masters is the place for me where I’ve had my struggles in the past and I’m going to be trying to put that right next year.”“It’s going to be tough for me. The Masters is the place for me where I’ve had my struggles in the past and I’m going to be trying to put that right next year.”
After landing the British Open and US PGA titles back-to-back in 2013, McIlroy also has the chance to join Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as only the fourth player to win three consecutive majors. Australia’s Adam Scott is likely to be one of McIlroy’s biggest rivals in the eastern suburbs this week, especially since he has decided to keep using the long putter that his brought him so much success but which will be outlawed next year.
Having posted just four top-10 finishes at the majors with a traditional blade, Scott has recorded nine in his past 16 starts since adopting the broomstick in 2012 - including his US Masters win in 2013.
“I’ll be putting the same way all next year,” Scott said at The Australian Golf Club.
Just who lugs his putter and the rest of Scott’s clubs around the world’s fairways in 2015 has been just as big a question since he parted with super-caddie Steve Williams in September.
The Queenslander has “borrowed” Perth International winner Thorbjorn Olesen’s caddie Mike Kerr for the Australian Open after using Englishman David Clark – a former bagman for Ernie Els and Lee Westwood – at last week’s Australian Masters in Melbourne.
Scott has also used Swiss neighbour Eddie Gardino since splitting with Williams and says the key to deciding on a long-term replacement is finding the right dynamic.
“There probably isn’t another Steve Williams out there,” Scott said.
“Steve was such a strong character ... I’m not looking to replace him. I think that would be the wrong way to go about it.
“The big thing for me in finding the caddie is going to be the personality and how that gels certainly with me but also the rest of the people around me as well and how we work as a team.”
As for McIlroy, his back-to-back wins at the British Open and US PGA earlier this year mean he also has the chance to join Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as only the fourth player to win three consecutive majors.
Already in esteemed company and hoping to play well into his 40s, the Northern Irishman knows he has the opportunity to one day be included in any conversations discussing the game’s greatest-ever player.Already in esteemed company and hoping to play well into his 40s, the Northern Irishman knows he has the opportunity to one day be included in any conversations discussing the game’s greatest-ever player.
“I’m just taking it one event at a time and trying to play the golf that I want to and I know that, if I play the golf that I’m capable of, that it means I’ve got a chance to do something pretty special in this game,” McIlroy said.“I’m just taking it one event at a time and trying to play the golf that I want to and I know that, if I play the golf that I’m capable of, that it means I’ve got a chance to do something pretty special in this game,” McIlroy said.
“I’ve got to make sure I keep putting the time in to not just stay where I’m at but I keep getting better and better because I know all the guys I’m competing against are doing the same thing.”“I’ve got to make sure I keep putting the time in to not just stay where I’m at but I keep getting better and better because I know all the guys I’m competing against are doing the same thing.”