BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

September 7, 2022

Rory McIlroy

Wentworth Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Welcome back to Wentworth, the Tour's Flagship week, with sellout crowds all the way through the week, you must be excited about what this week represents.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I mean, it's great to be back. I haven't been here since 2019. Obviously COVID through a spanner in the works for 2020 and even 2021 a little bit, and to be back, and even to see the crowds on a Wednesday, I'm in the Pro-Am and everyone is excited for this event to kick off.

We've got a great field this week. Wentworth is looking as good as it usually does, and I have a feeling it's going to be a really good week.

Q. Unfortunately looks like the weather has just turned on us at the last minute, but talk about coming off what you did at THE TOUR Championship, have you thought about the potential of a double, top of the Order of Merit?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, that's a big thing for me. I thought I was going to be the first person to do The Race to Dubai and FedEx double, but Stenson I guess did it in 2013.

But it's still a nice little thing to have. I've won The Race to Dubai before; I've won the FedEx before but not in the same year. I think all of my energy from now to the end of the season is to try to get that Race to Dubai title. I haven't won it in six or seven years, so I'd love to get my hands on it again.

Q. Tell us your thoughts on what makes the history of Wentworth so special to play in this event.

RORY McILROY: So I think the history speaks for itself. For me personally, I came here as a kid to watch The World Match Play at Wentworth when I was like 10, 11 years old. I saw Tiger here and Monty and Sergio for the first time.

You know, all the guys that I really looked up to as a kid. It holds a lot of great memories for me and the fact that we get to come back here and play, and I think about Ernie Els and the match play and I think about the fact that I'm standing on those tees and those greens trying to emulate those heros that I watched around here 20 years ago, it's pretty cool.