Golf

Form not fitness now the main concern for Rory McIlroy

Four-time Major winner looking to end disrupted season in style with Race to Dubai win

Rory McIlroy has said he is now fully fit after an injury disrupted season. Photograph: Getty
Rory McIlroy has said he is now fully fit after an injury disrupted season. Photograph: Getty
Wed Oct 28 2015 - 09:48

Former world number one Rory McIlroy believes he is close to full fitness as he seeks to end an injury-disrupted season in style by claiming a third Race to Dubai title.

McIlroy ruptured a ligament in his left ankle during a game of football with friends on July 4th, ruling him out of the Scottish Open and the defence of his Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles.

The 26-year-old returned to action in time to defend his US PGA title at Whistling Straits and played in three of the FedEx Cup play-off events before starting the new PGA Tour season with a tie for 26th in the Frys.com Open in California.

This season's European Tour still has four events remaining and McIlroy, who enjoys a 271,214-point lead over Danny Willett in the Race to Dubai, will play in this week's Turkish Airlines Open, the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

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“I guess I’m more concerned about form than fitness at this point. My fitness is totally fine,” McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, where it was announced the Turkish Airlines Open will continue on the European Tour until 2018 at a new venue of Carya Golf Club. “I’m pretty much back to where I need to be.

“I’ve started to train the way I was before the injury again, and I’m happy about that. So I’m trying to get my game back into the shape that I know that I can and feel like I’ve made a few steps in the right direction.

“This week is another opportunity to see where my game is, try and get into contention and try to win.

“I feel like a lot’s happened and a lot of time has gone by since that last win of mine back in May (Wells Fargo Championship). I want to try and get back into contention and there is no better place than this week.

“It would mean an awful lot to win the Race to Dubai. I had a great chance back in 2009 to win and didn’t quite; Lee (Westwood) pipped me there.

“I had a great season in 2012 and was able to win with probably one of the best finishes I’ve had in a golf tournament, finishing with five birdies in Dubai to win the tournament and win the overall thing.”

Last year McIlroy's four tournament victories — including the Open and US PGA — meant he had the title secured before the final event in Dubai, where he finished second behind Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson.