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SPORTSThursday 21 January 2016

McIlroy expects better short game, putting after surgery

STEVE DOUGLAS Dhabi Championship. “I ing the Race to Dubai on ous, they are always in the of conversation this time
AP Sports Writer feel like I’ve always been a the European Tour. He was forefront of your mind. You last year. Now, the focus
ABU DHABI, United Arab decent green reader, but back in Dubai last week, want to win tournaments is elsewhere — particularly
Emirates (AP) — Rory McIl- maybe not quite as good spending time on the and you want to achieve on Jordan Spieth, McIlroy’s
roy expects his short game as I could be. range, and made his now- things, but it’s about how big rival who dominated
and putting to be better So that was one of the rea- customary list of goals for to go about that on your the sport in 2015 by win-
this year after undergoing sons why I took this step.” the year on the back of his off-weeks.” ning two majors, the Tour
laser eye surgery during McIlroy said the surgery boarding pass as he flew So winning the Masters Championship on the PGA
his two-month break from hasn’t made a huge dif- out to the gulf emirate. to complete the career Tour and two other tourna-
competitive golf. ference to his long-range “There’s always obvious Grand Slam of the majors ments to clinch FedEx Cup,
“It’s definitely made things sight. ones and result-based wasn’t on the list? and winning more than $22
just that little bit sharper, The Northern Irishman goals. “Yeah, that’s obvious,” million.
maybe within 50 meters or hasn’t played competitive- But I never really write those he said, laughing. “I don’t McIlroy believes that could
so,” McIlroy said Wednes- ly since winning the World down because they are al- need to write that down.” give him a better chance
day ahead of his first tour- Tour Championship in No- ways there,” McIlroy said. The build-up to the Mas- going to Augusta National
nament of 2016 at the Abu vember in Dubai, clinch- “They are always obvi- ters was the No. 1 topic in April. q

Top-ranked Spieth, No. 3 McIlroy collide in Abu Dhabi

Jordan Spieth walks up the second fairway during the final round of the Tournament of Champions golf event at Kapalua Planta- challenge that included
tion Course on Kapalua, Hawaii. The latest stop for Jordan Spieth on his tour of the golfing world is the Middle East and an eagerly riding motorized golf scoot-
anticipated head to head with Rory McIlroy at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week. ers — so-called GolfBoards
— along a fairway on a lo-
(AP Photo/Matt York) cal course in the gulf emir-
ate.
STEVE DOUGLAS his tour of the golfing world Championship this week. struck. “It was quite competitive,”
AP Sports Writer is the Middle East and an It seems that two of For some pre-tournament McIlroy said with a smile.
ABU DHABI, United Arab eagerly anticipated head the sport’s biggest names publicity, Spieth and McIl- “Actually, Jordan nearly
Emirates (AP) — The latest to head with Rory McIlroy have clashed before the roy were among those tak- took me out. We collided
stop for Jordan Spieth on at the Abu Dhabi HSBC first tee shot has even been ing part in a “Rider Cup” halfway down the fairway
— thankfully I didn’t fall
off.”
On Thursday, it will be Mc-
Ilroy trying to knock the
top-ranked Spieth out of
his stride.
Fresh off an eight-stroke
win in Hawaii on his 2016
debut that backed up his
sensational 2015, Spieth will
make his first appearance
in a regular European Tour
event when he joins McIl-
roy and Rickie Fowler in a
stellar three-ball for the first
two rounds at Abu Dhabi
Golf Club. q

Spieth’s top goal in 2016: Winning the Ryder Cup with US

STEVE DOUGLAS won eight of the past 10 ing that the Ryder Cup, this tactics and leadership — was a “huge goal” that
AP Sports Writer editions of the Ryder Cup, is the inaugural event, this is especially compared to was “possibly at the very
ABU DHABI, United Arab and will defend the cup at a clean slate, we are ready the dynamic captaincy of top of the list” for 2016.
Emirates (AP) — Forget the Hazeltine in September for to go and start a new trend, Paul McGinley for Europe. “We are going to have to
majors, forget an Olym- a third straight time after then we’ll be fine.” Referencing up-and-com- — all as team members —
pic gold medal: Jordan winning 16½-11½ at Gle- The 2014 edition of the ing players like Brooks Koep- put a lot of thought into this
Spieth’s big goal in 2016 is neagles in 2014. Ryder Cup ended in ac- ka, Justin Thomas and Pat- ahead of time on how we
winning the Ryder Cup with Since then, the Americans rimony for the U.S. team, rick Reed, Spieth predicted want to prepare, so that
the United States. have appointed Davis with Phil Mickelson — sit- there will be a younger U.S. when we get there, we
“We’re tired of hearing Love III for a second stint ting beside captain Tom team with “less scar tissue” know the teams, we can
about changes that need as captain and created a Watson at a closing news and a “fiery” side through then play matches against
to be made. We’re tired of so-called “task force” to conference — praising the its success in team events each other.”
hearing about the past,” take a closer look at where success of Paul Azinger in in junior and amateur tour- “We don’t have to figure
the top-ranked Spieth the team has been going 2008 in the most recent USA naments. stuff out last minute,” he
said Wednesday, adopt- wrong. victory and suggesting that “We are all going to listen added in what appeared
ing a fierce tone. “And “When we get there this Watson didn’t embrace to our captain. We are go- to be a nod to Watson’s
we’re ready to believe in year, it starts over,” said Spi- that winning formula. ing to listen to our assistant leadership in 2014. “That’s
a younger, more hungry eth, who is playing the Abu There was a general feel- captains, and they are go- going to be important for
team going forward.” Dhabi Championship this ing that Watson was out ing to listen to us,” said Spi- us, to just kind of ease the
The European team has week. “If we go in believ- of touch with his decisions, eth, saying the Ryder Cup transition.”q