McIlroy 'so excited' for Irish Open

RoryMcIlroy - Cropped

World number one Rory McIlroy is "so excited" at the prospect of playing in the Irish Open, which gets under way at Royal County Down on Thursday.

McIlroy's charitable organisation, the Rory Foundation, is hosting the event, and the Northern Irishman is thrilled at the prospect of playing in front of his home crowd.

His influence on this European Tour event has been a major factor in attracting several star names to the tournament, including Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els.

And McIlroy is keen to impress, having struggled to produce his best form at this competition in recent years.

"I'm so excited for this tournament," he said. "Obviously the Irish Open is a tournament that's close to my heart. 

"Now that I'm involved with my foundation hosting the event, and with the title sponsors Dubai Duty Free and all the players coming to play Royal County Down, it's going to be a great week and I just hope I can put on a good performance for all the fans back home.

"I haven't been as excited for a golf tournament this year, apart from the Masters for obvious reasons. 

"Royal County Down is probably rated as one of the top five golf courses in the world and with all the players - Rickie Fowler coming off the back of his win at the Players, Sergio Garcia who was in that play-off, Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Shane Lowry, myself and so many other good players coming - it'll be great.

"I haven't really played well in the Irish Open and that's something that hasn't sat well with me for a few years.

"I think it's to do with maybe trying to hard when you get back home and you maybe push yourself too much.

"I'm just going to try and enjoy myself this year and relish the opportunity to play at home. It would be great to win obviously and I'll be trying my best out there."

McIlroy will come up against 10 former winners of the Irish Open in the star-studded field, including defending champion Mikko Ilonen, who prevailed by one stroke ahead of Edoardo Molinari at Fota Island last year.

As well as McIlroy, there are four men competing who have previously been ranked world number one - Donald, Els, Kaymer and Westwood.

McIlroy, Els and Kaymer make up three of the seven major winners in the field, with Paul Lawrie, Harrington, Clarke and McDowell also present.

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