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Rory McIlroy is looking forward to seeing golf take its place at \u201cthe center of the sports world\u201d as the PGA Tour returns from its three-month suspension.<\/p>\nRory McIlroy is looking forward to seeing golf take its place at \u201cthe center of the sports world\u201d as the PGA Tour returns from its three-month suspension.<\/p>\n
The Northern Irishman will tee up at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday as a star-studded field looks to mark the resumption from lockdown in style.<\/p>\n
Each of the world\u2019s top five players will be at Colonial Country Club, with number one McIlroy starting in a mouth-watering group alongside second-placed Jon Rahm and third-ranked Brooks Koepka in what should provide a spectacle fit for the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this week is very important because golf will be the center of the sports world, which it usually is (just) a few weeks a year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor people to have something to watch on TV where they actually don\u2019t know the outcome I think is going to be nice for them. I\u2019m excited. I\u2019m excited to be back on the road and doing what I\u2019m supposed to do: play golf and compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIlroy believes his sport is perfectly suited to the new circumstances imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, but asked for patience as those involved take their first steps into a new environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s an important week because golf can show that we can play in a socially distant manner. We can conduct a tournament and adhere to all the safety protocols that have been put in place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is going to be very easy to fall back into old habits because it\u2019s just what we\u2019ve done. I\u2019d say for the viewing public just to give the players and the caddies a little bit of leeway in terms of if they see something on TV that isn\u2019t quite right.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIlroy went on to suggest that the recent sense of co-operation between those involved at the highest level could lead to more dramatic structural changes such as a merger between the PGA and European Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything, I think this pandemic has highlighted the fact that the game of golf at the highest level needs to be simplified,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s opened some people\u2019s eyes up to the fact that we can all sort of work a little bit better together in this world. There\u2019s too many funnels, there\u2019s too many channels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for the health of both tours\u2026a \u2018world tour\u2019 is something I\u2019ve always wanted, but it has to be done the right way. I\u2019ve sort of been calling for it for a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s some European Tour events offering FedExCup points and some PGA TOUR events offering Race to Dubai points, I don\u2019t know, but just a little bit more cohesion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Koepka made no secret of the fact he is looking to unseat McIlroy, adding an extra competitive element to their initial outing alongside Rahm.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got eyes on Rory,\u201d said Koepka. \u201cThat\u2019s the goal, to get back to number one in the world. That\u2019s the whole point of playing: to be the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I take care of my business, then I don\u2019t see any reason why I couldn\u2019t get back to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
There will be no play at 8.46am, with a moment\u2019s silence held in honor of George Floyd, who prosecutors claim was knelt on and killed by police for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis last month, prompting widespread civil unrest.<\/p>\n
The move has found widespread support, with Koepka describing it as \u201creally special\u201d, Jordan Spieth calling for the idea to be extended \u201chowever long we need to\u201d and McIlroy praising \u201ca wonderful gesture\u201d.<\/p>\n