McIlroy in optimistic mood ahead of a busy schedule

World number seven looking forward to matchplay test as season swings into full gear

Graeme McDowell plays a shot during practice prior to the start of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona. Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy might have gone down on bended knee to ask for Caroline Wozniacki’s hand in marriage but when it comes to golf, he’s more of a pragmatist than a romantic.

The world number seven has been more concerned about his putting than the demise of Augusta National’s Eisenhower tree as he prepares to face the colourful Boo Weekley in the first round of a WGC-Accenture Match Play that is without three of the world’s top four in Tiger Woods and the reigning Masters and Open champions, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson.

“It’s a tree,” McIlroy shrugged, smiling broadly.

Seeded number four at Dove Mountain this week, the 24-year-old is in Arizona looking for his first win of 2014.

More consistentBut rather than trying to get back to the level he showed in 2012, when he reached the final in Tucson and counted a second Major victory among his five wins that year, he’s looking to improve on that by being even more consistent and contending even when he’s not at the top of his game.

“I haven’t hit the ball as well for a long time,” said McIlroy, who said things are far different to 12 months ago when he arrived in a chilly Tucson and made an early exit to Shane Lowry, having struggled with his game and his new clubs.

Asked if 2012 was the benchmark, he said: “I can do better. I went through a period in 2012 when I missed four cuts in five events . . . It was a benchmark because anytime I got into contention, I was there or thereabout or I won, but I feel I’d like to try and got better than that.”

Having spent the early part of this week working with Dave Stockton his putting, especially his grip, he’s hoping to win here or at the Honda Classic or the WGC-Cadillac Championship Doral in a fortnight so that he goes in to the build up to the Masters with a win under his belt.

Third in Abu Dhabi despite a two-shot penalty in the third round and ninth in Dubai after an average putting performance in the final round, his confidence is high though he’s aware that in 18 hole matchplay, anything can happen.

Chipping and putting is crucial and that’s the key for Graeme McDowell, who is on the opposite side of the draw to McIlroy. He is hoping tactics and putting will count for more than length when he faces his Lake Nona neighbour Gary Woodland in the opening round.

The big-hitting American will be outdriving McDowell by 50 yards or more but the Rathmore man points to the fact that a bomber doesn’t win at Dove Mountain every year, despite the fact that it measures more than 7,700 yards from the tips.

Putting wellMcDowell said. “Length is important in some areas but you also have to place it well as well so I wouldn’t call this necessarily a bombers’ track.

“Look at the past winners – Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald. It hasn’t historically been the bombers who have taken care of business around here.

“This format has a lot to do with iron play and putting. You can really destroy a guy by putting really well.”

McDowell is feeling good about his game after knocking the rust off with a seventh place finish in his first start of the season in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am two week ago.

“There are no easy matches and you have just got to get your head down and try to get out of Wednesday.”

This week’s event is the first of eight for McIlroy which will see him use a bag bearing the logo of his sponsor’s Bose in exchange for a contribution to the Rory McIlroy Foundation.

McIlroy plans to tee it up in the Honda Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Championship before playing the Shell Houston Open, the Masters, the Wells Fargo Championship, The Players Championship and the Memorial Tournament before auctioning off the bags for his Foundation.