Tour News

Amidst distraction, Rory McIlroy two strokes back in South Korea

Published

13 years ago

Oct 18, 2013

True, opening with rounds of 70, 69 in a OneAsia Tour event isn’t exactly the same thing as doing so in a PGA Tour tournament. Nevertheless, Rory McIlroy putting himself in contention heading into the weekend in any tournament is noteworthy, given the golfer’s month-long hiatus and multiple sources of distraction at present.

The struggling McIlroy made seven birdies Friday at Woojeon Hills Country Club to move within two strokes of leader Soon-sang Hong.

“I’m driving the ball very well and for the most part my iron play is pretty good,” McIlroy said. “But I definitely missed a few opportunities out there. I definitely could have been a few shots better, but I’m in a good position going into the weekend and that’s all you can ask for.”

McIlroy may be in a “good position” as far as his play on the course is concerned. Off the course, however, rumors continue to swirl about a breakup with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki. Even though both parties have denied they’ve split, tabloid tales and questions persist.

Also, McIlroy is taking legal action against his former agency, Horizon Sports Management, alleging that the company had collected too much in commissions and fees. Also at issue: Whether the golfer was pressured into signing a contract with the company that wasn’t in his best interest.

As was widely reported, McIlroy and Horizon have parted ways, but golfer is seeking to recoup nearly $7 million in fees. Horizon, of course, feels the fees were justified and claims they played a critical role in securing the Ulsterman’s deal with Nike.

Regardless of how this situation plays out (and surely it won’t end quickly or quietly), the news only broke on October 14th, just days before McIlroy teed it up in Korea. And all of this, of course, is merely the icing on the cake of lackluster play, constant second-guessing, and general frustration that was the golfer’s 2013 season.

McIlroy, for his part, has several tournaments left in 2013. On the slate is the $7 million BMW Masters in Shanghai, where he was runner-up at last year, and the WGC-HSBC Champions. Surely, the oft-criticized Nike staffer will be looking to build on the positive momentum he’s established through the opening rounds in Korea.

And with all due respect to Misters Soon-sang Hong, Sung-hoon Kang, Hyung-tae Kim, and In-choon Hwang, whom together the former World No. 1 trails, if McIlory is able to focus, dig deep and play his C+ game, he should win handily this week.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

16 Comments

Billy

Oct 20, 2013 at 2:10 pm

Tied for 2nd.

Reply Report comment
spolle

Oct 20, 2013 at 10:45 am

It´s Not even close to true that Mcilroy would easily win with his c+ game. The differences in skill level between different tours are much smaller than that. If not, why do we see players from the korean tour and the European tour establish themself in America?

Reply Report comment
Steve

Oct 20, 2013 at 1:56 am

Lol at the European Tour being better than the PGA Tour. No chance at all.

Reply Report comment
shanked

Oct 19, 2013 at 10:07 am

Shot a 75 and is now 10 back. “A” for effort. Overall grade: C+

Reply Report comment
- William
  
  Oct 19, 2013 at 7:34 pm
  
  Sorry Harvey is wrong. The European tour is not better. We have the progression tours and we move about a bit but PGA have every bit as talented players. The benefit of our tour is the places we visit. Love watching the golf in Africa, Dubai, Australia and my favourite Cran Sur Sierre. A global tour as well as Europe, which helps our players with all sorts of conditions and grass types and to a large degree bonds them together with the traveling and different cultures every week. Maybe life in Europe is tougher!
  
  Reply Report comment
Andrew Cooper

Oct 19, 2013 at 8:02 am

“…with all due respect to…”?! Or with no respect whatsoever. So 2 back, tied 5th, yet he could win handily with his c+ game over the weekend?!

Reply Report comment
Yank

Oct 19, 2013 at 7:54 am

Harvey is mistaken. To such a degree that I presume the olposite everything he wrote.

98% of all professionals current and former believe and will state the PGA is the premier tour in terms of competition and skill level.

Reply Report comment
- Harvey
  
  Oct 19, 2013 at 10:20 am
  
  98% – made that one up
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tyler
    
    Oct 21, 2013 at 11:18 am
    
    The European tour is good but the best players in the world play on the PGA tour.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Mike
      
      Oct 22, 2013 at 5:57 am
      
      The PGA Tour has the most money, therefore attracts the best players, period! I’m sure there are quotas for american players and internationals can’t get in, therefore they are forced to play the other tours.
      
      However, the American courses are easy, nice wide open fairways. Par 71, par 70s? come on ladies, where are you hitting from? Everyone knows the toughest courses are from the home of golf. Scotland and there are some damn fine courses in Australia that put the US ones to shame. Unfortunately the population down in Aus doesn’t allow for the sponsorship dollars in golf, so the competitions don’t attract the prize money of the PGA, and therefore the big names.
      
      Reply Report comment
Harvey

Oct 19, 2013 at 4:24 am

It doesn’t matter what game you bring, anyone on any pro tour can shoot a -10 weekend.. News flash, the Asian tour is strong just like the SA and OZ tours. PGA has money but the standard is not even close to European tour

Reply Report comment
- patrick
  
  Oct 19, 2013 at 7:59 am
  
  I think Harvey had few too many pops when posting that comment. The PGA tour is the standard all other tours aspire to. The european tour isn’t even close when it comes to strength of field. To think otherwise is ridiculous. Check the world rankings and see where those guys play their golf.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Harvey
    
    Oct 19, 2013 at 10:19 am
    
    Very ignorant comment, the PGA tour gets a few of the best from around the world due to money and the rest is made up of Americans who are scared to leave the country in fear of a hard golf course.. Check out the scores from Australia this week, field is made up of invites and guys trying to save their card but the big shots off the PGA tour are nowhere. My point is how can you call it the best tour in the WORLD when you only play in one country
    
    Reply Report comment
    - SN
      
      Oct 21, 2013 at 3:21 am
      
      Well,,, it’s the tradition… and mentality, maybe.
      Like MLB calls its final “World Series”
      
      and when minorities or Asian start dominating the tournaments like in LPGA,
      the true color would start to reveal…
      “we are not happy about ‘those’ players, they are not contributing… etc.”
      
      Get used to it…
      
      Reply Report comment
    - ams165
      
      Oct 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm
      
      Harv.
      
      You’re a little low on oxygen.
      
      The PGA is the best tour in the world.
      
      That would be like saying the NHL is not the best hockey league in the world…..
      
      Reply Report comment
pinhigh27

Oct 19, 2013 at 2:41 am

C+ game? I dont think you understand how close the fields are, even on lesser fields.. Tiger can’t win on the PGA tour with his C+ game…. Maybe B+

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