As part of the pre-tournament publicity, Spieth, McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson took part in a “Rider Cup” challenge, which included riding motorised GolfBoards down the fairway.
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Five-time major champion McIlroy, and the current Masters and US Open champion Spieth have been paired together for the first two rounds of the $2.7 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, the first event of the European Tour’s Desert Swing.
High profile golfers who play in tournaments similar to this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship usually get enlisted into some kind of wacky photo shoot. “A lot of stuff is to do with that, with preparation and making sure that I am fully ready to go every week of the year”. Or two, you can look at what these guys who you’ve looked up to your whole life have accomplished more than you have. I want my name to go down in history for as many things as it can.
Spieth, who is making his Arabian debut in Abu Dhabi, said: “I’ve spoken to Rickie a number of times about it and he said his experience of Abu Dhabi and this event was fantastic”.
“I understand that it doesn’t happen overnight”.
“I felt like I needed it mentally and physically a little bit”.
The Northern Irishman hasn’t played competitively since winning the World Tour Championship in November in Dubai, clinching the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.
The 26-year-old is hoping for some improved results on the greens, after using the off-season to have laser treatment on his eyes.
“I like it. I think it’s a good idea to let guys wear shorts in practise rounds”.
“Teeing off on Thursday morning, it’s your first competitive shot in a couple of months.” he added.
After four runners-up finishes in Abu Dhabi, including the last two years, McIlroy wants to take the extra step this week to give him momentum at the start of a seven-tournament stretch before the Masters at Augusta National, where he will bid once again to complete the career grand slam of majors.
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On Rory McIlroy’s first flight of the year, he has a tradition whereby he scribbles down on his boarding pass his goals for the season. “So I think that’s really beneficial for a lot of guys to start the year like that”.
