Confident McIlroy looks to Open

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June 25, 2009

Rory McIlroy’s top-10 finish at Bethpage has him licking his lips ahead of The Open at Turnberry.

Rory McIlroy’s first top-10 finish in a major on Monday has him licking his lips at the prospect of The Open at Turnberry, now only three weeks away.
But first the 20-year-old has a second European Tour title in his sights at the BMW International in Munich starting on Thursday.
McIlroy shot a closing 68 at Bethpage Black on Monday to take 10th place on his US Open debut only six strokes behind winner Lucas Glover.
“It’s another good performance in a major this year and gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season,” said the world number 16, who came 20th on his first appearance at The Masters in April.
“I feel as if I’ve got the game to contend in majors now and try and compete to win them. The Open is a big target of mine.
“It was a really solid week and I can take a lot from it. It was a great week – and a long one.”
So long, in fact, that England’s Ross Fisher, who finished as top European in fifth place, has decided to take a rest rather than travel on to Germany.
Fisher, one off the lead before he three-putted the short 17th, has entered for next week’s French Open, but his schedule is up in the air somewhat with his wife Joanne expecting their first child in the middle of next month – during Open Championship week, in fact.
The 28-year-old has already stated that even if he was six ahead with a round to play at Turnberry he would return home for the birth.
Henrik Stenson, ninth on Monday, is not looking forward to the possibility of further rain throughout this week’s event.
But the Swede added: “I’ve got two weeks off afterwards, so I’ll try to make it through another wet week and then get some rest before the British Open.
“Hopefully I’ll be back fresh for the next major championship.”
He has now posted top 10 finishes in three of the last four and was joint third behind Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter at Royal Birkdale last July.
Among those also in Munich are Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Luke Donald, Bernhard Langer and John Daly. Defending champion is German Martin Kaymer.