Rory McIlroy is California dreaming and will hope to click into gear as he looks for some form on the PGA Tour with some big events to come ahead of the Masters in April.
McIlroy wasn’t firing on all cylinders during the DP World Tour’s desert swing and ended his fortnight with his worst career Dubai Desert Classic finish, a tournament he has won a record four times, but a share of 33rd is just the second time he has finished outside the top-10 in twelve starts.
“Yeah, stuck in neutral most of the week, absolutely,” he told The Scotsman after a closing 73 gave him a two-under total.
McIlroy will have two weeks off before he defends his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from February 12-15 and tees it up at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera a week later.
Then the big events keep coming in the lead up to the Masters at Augusta National with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and his PLAYERS Championship defence the highlight of the Florida swing before he heads down Magnolia Lane for the first time as a green jacket winner.
“Sort of shake the rust off a little bit,” he continued.
“See where the game is. I have two weeks off now before playing Pebble and then Riv. So do a little bit more practice. Obviously, play those two.”
“Still trying to obviously build up to the Masters,” McIlroy added. “Last year was really good for me with the win at Pebble and the win at The Players.
“If I can keep progressing a little bit and get to a level that I want to be, then hopefully I can contend in one of the tournaments in California, at least, and then do the same thing in Florida heading into Augusta.”
Tom McKibbin was best of the Irish in 19th place on four-under after a 72 which pocketed him €89,672 while Shane Lowry was a shot further back.
Both players will not be in Bahrain next week but Pádraig Harrington is listed to play.
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