McIlroy snubs Turkey amid security fears
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from next week’s £5.7 million Turkish Airlines Open, the first of the European Tour’s three Final Series events. No reason was given by the four-time major winner’s manager when he informed tour officials of the decision yesterday.
McIlroy is contesting the WGCHSBC Champions in China – he was in eighth place going into the final round – and had spoken of his desire to win at least one of his last three events this season – in Shanghai, Turkey and Dubai – to try to secure the Race to Dubai crown for a third year in succession.
The 27-year-old world No3, who is more than a million points behind leader Danny Willett, was set to be the star attraction at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort in Antalya after Tiger Woods pulled out, the American 14-times major winner saying he needed more time to work on his game after a long injury lay-off.
This month European Tour officials investigated reports that the southern Turkish holiday resort region of Antalya was hit in a rocket attack. Turkish media reported that two rockets were fired from a mountainous area close to the highway linking the city to the resort town of Kemer.
No one was killed or injured in the attack, which hit a fishing company’s storage house and open ground near by. It is understood that the Tour received assurances from security experts that it was safe to stage the event, won last year by Victor Dubuisson.
Matt Kuchar had a rare hole-in-one in Shanghai yesterday but felt like crying afterwards. The United States Ryder Cup player hit an ace at Sheshan International Golf Club’s treacherous par-three 17th, but was 24 hours too late to win a brand new luxury Cadillac CT6 40T Prem.
“It was the saddest hole-in-one,” Kuchar said. “I knew I just made a hole-inone and I was teased by this beautiful car sitting there that’s not to be mine.”
During Thursday and Friday’s opening two rounds of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the car had been on offer to anyone who could make a hole-in-one. But yesterday the teeing ground was moved up inside 200 yards as its turf had cut up badly in wet conditions this week. The reduced length of what is usually a 212-yard hole negated the sponsor’s insurance cover – meaning no car could be given away.
“Most of the time a hole-in-one, you’re just overjoyed with excitement,” said Kuchar. “But literally, a minute before my shot, I found out. There’s a car sitting there, the most beautiful Cadillac sitting on a tee with the note below saying, ‘This hole is under 200 yards, thus no longer qualifies for the insurance for the giveaway for the prize.’ ”
The ace did help to propel Kuchar to a round of 68, nine under par for the tournament. He is in a six-way tie for eighth place, alongside McIlroy, going into today’s final round, eight shots behind Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan.