Rory McIlroy celebrated being named PGA Tour Player of Year for the third period, however he is already planning for next year’s Masters.
McIlroy was surprised after topping the voting from his PGA Tour professionals ahead of world # 1 Brooks Koepka, when he was presented with the Jack Nicklaus award, and by Jack Nicklaus himself.
The 30-year-old captured The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, for the first time at March, and he ended the season at the Tour Championship that brought him his FedExCup name, and a bonus.
But after yet a frustrating season in the majors, McIlroy has produced winning his # 1 priority again as he seems to atone for numerous near-misses in Augusta National to the Experts and is aiming to put that right at 2020.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, here is what McIlroy needed to say on his desire to win the Green Jacket, the respect he needs for Koepka, the contentious new big schedule and a lot more…
I would give a lot [to acquire it]! It’s the one. I have been very fortunate and lucky enough to win nearly everything there is to win in golfing, so that’s the final piece in the puzzlegame.
I’m after a year like I have had that I am more prepared than ever to proceed and try and claim it and acquire it. Every single time you go back you get more and more comfortable, so next year will be the year.
I feel as if I’m confident in my game that I will have a fantastic chance.
I voted to win. I thought it was pretty tight. Brooks had won yet another important and played.
He beat me in Memphis convincingly in July and I got him back in Atlanta. I thought it was going to be pretty tight and I did not know if the major he won went to sway the vote one way or the other.
It is fine you come out on top and when your peers voted on you, it’s a great feeling.
It’s always good to get a win under your belt at the beginning of the year and that’s the first tournament of the year. It is a place I’ve fought at for a little while and I think the move back to March supposed that the class played me personally favourably.
I might strike motorist could be a little more aggressive and it was a great place. That clearly set me up for what’s been a terrific season.
We’re all creatures of habit and it felt quite bunched together but it’s how it is. We don’t make the schedules and we’re told in which to play, and that means you’ve got to be prepared to perform with.
I believed it worked. I believe people had enough time to get ready for each significant event. It keeps people a bit more curious on this side of the pond with the FedExCup ending a little sooner.
It’s an adjustment for everyone, but I think by the next year comes around I do not think you’ll hear debate about the program.
It’s not the first time I’ve obtained a little and at this point I play for that, but you require time off to reflect and recharge batteries.
I’m heading into Wentworth on Sunday then play the Dunhill Links Championship the week after, then I get back to Florida and also have three weeks off before heading to Asia.
I will play in Japan and China and then I’ll head to Dubai, so I’ve still got quite a lot of traveling coming up, but then after that I think I’m going to take eight weeks off to relax and reflect on what’s been a excellent season and attempt to get back myself up again for 2020.
I think if I return at other years in which I’ve had success, whether that be 2012 or 2014, I feel like I’m a golfer that is much better than I was and that’s all I could ask for.
I really feel like I have improved, I feel like I’ve learnt a couple of things about my game and myself which gives me a lot of confidence.
It’s been a stretch for me since pro turned 12 years ago right now, I have been on an amazing journey and I really feel as though I’m not at the halfway point. I have got.
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