Hong Kong Open schedule squeeze a shame, agrees McIlroy
Northern Irish ace hopes player goodwill will reduce impact of tournament's likely loss of its prestigious place in tour calendar
World No 1 Rory McIlroy hopes the UBS Hong Kong Open - one of his favourite tournaments - will not suffer greatly after being squeezed out of the European's Tour season-ending Race To Dubai.
The defending champion said yesterday he did not know the Fanling showpiece would lose its prestigious slot from next year as the penultimate event before the US$8 million World Tour Championship in Dubai from November 25.
"This is the first time I am aware of this move," McIlroy, 23, said. "Hopefully it won't have too much of an impact on Hong Kong."
There are fears the change in the European Tour calendar next year will see many of the top players giving Hong Kong a miss as it will not play a crucial role in the money-list race, a move which 2005 champion Colin Montgomerie described as "a shame". The open has lost out to a new US$7 million tournament in Turkey and may now end up as one of the opening events on the tour.
"I guess it will depend on the individual to make the decision," McIlroy said. "Hong Kong is a great tournament, a great city and a great course. It will come down to personal choices."
What McIlroy's choice will be remained under wraps. The Northern Irishman said he was glad to be back in a city he has visited since 2006.
"Hong Kong's always a place I have enjoyed coming to. I first came here in 2006 when I played in the Faldo Junior series and my first Hong Kong Open was in 2007. This is my sixth consecutive tournament and I'm happy to say I have a good record, having come close to winning it twice before being lucky enough to win last year," he said.