NORTHERN IRISHMAN RORY McIlroy has targeted two major titles in 2014 as he looks to respond to a disappointing year.
Using new clubs as part of a sponsorship arrangement with Nike, McIlroy slid down the rankings in 2013, losing his spot on top of the pile and finishing the year in sixth.
McIlroy only won one tournament in 2013, edging Adam Scott in December’s Australia Open, but says that victory has given him confidence as enters a new year.
And in a bid to make up for 2013, the 24-year-old — who has already won the US Open and the PGA Championship in his career — is aiming for a big 12 months.
“I feel like I am very close — I’m confident with my game and confident where it’s going,” McIlroy said.
“I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013, so I’ll try to make up for that with two this year.“I feel that my game is really coming back, going down to Australia and winning. Beating Adam Scott down there was really nice and while it doesn’t make up for the other weeks during the year, it gives me some momentum for 2014.
“I didn’t really have a chance to win any of the majors last year — I just didn’t get into contention.
“I’m so much better down the stretch and I’m so much better under pressure than I used to be, so if I give myself a chance in these tournaments I know I’ll have a great opportunity to win.
“I didn’t have the greatest of seasons in 2013 but I feel like I’ll definitely make up for that in 2014.”
They don’t make any Paul McGraths anymore!
David Luiz doesn’t look like the first cousin of a defender…
It’s not that defenders are overated, I’d say the likes of Kompany Thiago Silva and Lahm are rather underrated. People prefer to see ball playing centre backs but then hang these players out to dry when there’s defensive problems. There is definitely a shift in how they play but if you teach a dog to chase a ball will he be able to climb a tree? If you teach a defender to be skillful and use the ball efficiently can you expect him to put in tough tackles and be a defensive mind player? The game would do well to remember its roots and try and amend the lack of ‘no-nonsense’ defenders
The best defensively set up team out there has to be Atletico Madrid. Simeone has organisation drilled into every player who starts, particularly in the back line. Can anyone name a better defender at defending than Diego Godin?
Great article.
I’ll hand it to Paul, this was a good article.
Cannavaro had it all. He was irrational at times, but by god, he was brilliant.
On the one hand – the hard men at centre back was a great facet to the game.
On the other hand – Feck it, more goals per game.
I just wonder if the ever-decreasing tolerance for physicality in the game has simply lead to these types not being considered by scouts and coaches, in lieu of ball-players that’ll make defenders.
Good article, the all-nonsense David Luiz made me laugh.
I always loved Alessandro Nesta. A God of a defender!
Best article I’ve read here in a while…..Bravo!
Brilliant insight, had never thought of the Brazil/arsenal comparison.
I started reading this. I’m not long out if bed and a bit tired. Then I scrolled down and there was alot to read. So I stopped.