GOLF: The US tour may be asking players to watch their overall appearance, but rising star Rory McIlroy has no intention of cutting his hair "until somebody tells me to".
The 19-year-old’s curly locks were last trimmed in “July or August” and, given his rise up the rankings from 172nd at the end of August to 15th this week, he is superstitious now about a trip to the barbers.
“I’ll lose all my power,” McIlroy joked today.
His first tournament in America will be the Accenture World Match Play in Arizona in two weeks’ time.
Rick George, the PGA Tour’s chief of operations, said earlier this month: “We just want the players to be neatly groomed and there are a lot of ways to interpret that.
“It’s more of a guide than a policy. There are no parameters, per se.”
The European Tour also asks players to “present a neat appearance in both clothing and personal grooming”, but length of hair is not mentioned.
The only things specifically listed as unacceptable are jeans, shorts, trousers tucked into socks, shirts worn outside trousers and “collarless, sleeveless shirts of a transparent material/design”.
McIlroy has been at home in Holywood near Belfast since his maiden professional victory at the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the month, and because of the bad weather is itching to get on his travels again.
“I’ve not had much chance to hit balls, so I’m definitely looking forward to going back to the sun,” he added.
He should see plenty of that in the coming weeks and months. He does not play in Europe until the Irish Open at Co Louth Golf Club from May 14th-17th.
World number three Pádraig Harrington, who closed with a 68 to tie 24th in last week’s Buick Invitational in Torrey Pines, is due to partner JP McManus in this week’s Pebble Beach pro-am.
Paul McGinley is also in the field in California and will play alongside Dermot Desmond.
On the European Tour, or rather in Malaysia, four Irishmen are in the field for the Maybank Malaysian Open at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin and Gary Murphy are competing in Malaysia, while Michael Hoey is fifth reserve.
