Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 19 March 2019
McIlroy blocks out noise and hits his stride

By DOUG FERGUSON when he began this year him as a person. “Who I am
AP Golf Writer by playing in the final group as a person isn’t who I am
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. in three out of his five tour- as a golfer,” he said. “And
(AP) — Rory McIlroy man- naments, finishing no worse it took me a while to get
aged to block out all the than a tie for sixth. to that point where I real-
noise, all the distractions, But he never showed any ized who those two people
and this was long before he hint on panic. were. So that has been a
even reached the pivotal His reaction when he big thing. And I think that’s
three-hole finish at the TPC tapped in for par Sunday been the big difference be-
Sawgrass to win The Players to win The Players was not tween the highs and lows of
Championship. much different from when the last few years and the
McIlroy, more than any oth- he finished with a par at more consistent play. I’ve
er player, has been looked Bay Hill, a bogey at Riviera, had two wins in the last 12
upon as golf’s next big a birdie at Torrey Pines. All months, but even the play
thing in the decade since of them were good weeks in between that has been
age and injuries began to when he looked back over pretty good.”
slow Tiger Woods. 72 holes. One of them was Not since 2012 has McIlroy
Jack Nicklaus took to Twit- better than the other be- started a year so well.
ter on Sunday night for cause he won a trophy. He won the Honda Classic
memories of the time McIl- “I feel like I’ve managed to reach No. 1 in the world
roy first came to meet with the first six tournaments of for the first time, had run-
him ahead of the 2010 Mas- the year very well, even ner-up finishes in Abu Dhabi
ters, and a few months later with some noise around and the Match Play, was
the precocious 20-year-old me, whether ‘he can’t third at a World Golf Cham-
from Northern Ireland shot close, he can’t play on pionship at Doral, and tied
62 on the final day at Quail Sundays,’ blah, blah, blah,” for fifth in Dubai. In those Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, gives the thumbs up after
Hollow for his first PGA Tour McIlroy said. “I’ve just got five events, he was never winning the The Players Championship golf tournament Sunday,
victory. to do my thing. And if I go more than four shots out of March 17, 2019, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
McIlroy set the U.S. Open concentrate on me, con- the lead. Associated Press
scoring record a year later trol what I can do, good Now he has a victory Dustin Johnson, who only McIlroy headed home to
with an eight-shot victory. golf and good attitude against the strongest field three weeks ago won by south Florida with $2.25 mil-
He had four majors — miss- takes care of the rest.” in golf at The Players, which five shots against a World lion, the lead in the FedEx
ing only a green jacket — Attitude has been key for is feeling more and more Golf Championships field in Cup, his world ranking at
at age 25. McIlroy. like a major in everything Mexico City. Memories are No. 4.
So with McIlroy approach- It was important not to get but the label, to go with a short in golf. He left behind the world-
ing his 30th birthday, and down on himself if he didn’t runner-up in Dubai and top McIlroy has one more start, class golfer with 15 PGA
with only one victory over win, even if everyone ex- finishes everywhere else. at the Match Play. Winning Tour victories and four ma-
his previous 50 tournaments pected him to at Went- McIlroy had said at the start doesn’t hurt, though Mc- jors before turning 30 —
worldwide, the critics took worth last year and Dubai of the year in Hawaii that Ilroy is not sure his victory Nicklaus and Woods are
notice. two months ago. he was entering a second at The Players will help or the only others who have
When he played in the final McIlroy says he has been phase of his career, even damage his shot at a green done that since the Masters
group nine times without reading books and work- as he has learned to look jacket. began in 1934. He will worry
winning — never mind that ing with people to remind at the big picture in an Ins- “If I go to Augusta with a about the next tournament
he was at least three shots himself that golf is a joy to tagram world. It’s one tour- similar golf game to what I when it gets there.
back on five of those oc- play and provides a com- nament. It’s one month. It’s have now, and the attitude Next up?
casions — questions about fortable lifestyle — he went one season. I’ve shown over the first few “I’ve got an interior design
his ability to close became over $45 million in career Las Vegas installed McIl- weeks of the year,” McIl- meeting tomorrow morning
louder. PGA Tour earnings alone roy as the latest favorite to roy said, “I think I’ll have a to pick out some stuff for
His patience was tested — but that it doesn’t define win the Masters ahead of great chance.” our new house,” he said.q

FIFA to make public the vote for 2023 Women’s World Cup

By ROB HARRIS the FIFA Congress of all its decision in March 2020,
AP Global Soccer Writer member associations were the “result of each ballot
MIAMI (AP) — FIFA has published. Previously, the and related votes of each
agreed to make public decisions were taken in member” will be “open
its vote on the host for the private by the scandal- and made public.”
2023 Women’s World Cup. discredited FIFA executive It could be the most hotly
The organization’s decision- committee, which was contested bidding process
making body is becoming renamed the FIFA Council for the tournament, which
more transparent after in 2016. was first staged in 1991.
concerns were raised last But FIFA announced last Australia, Colombia, Japan
month that the women’s month that its 37-person and South Africa have
tournament wouldn’t fully council would still decide been exploring bids. South
follow the new voting on the destination of the Korea submitted a proposal
process for the men’s World 2023 Women’s World Cup, to North Korea to jointly bid.
Cup. with no mention of votes Bidders have until April 16
In this July 5, 2015, file photo, the United States Women’s The United States, Canada being publicly declared. to complete their bidding
National Team celebrates with the trophy after they defeated
Japan 5-2 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship and Mexico were chosen Now, FIFA has said following registrations, and bid books
in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. last year to host the 2026 a meeting in Miami that must be submitted by Oct.
Associated Press World Cup. The votes by after the council makes 4.q