Motivated McIlroy excited about World Cup challenge

RORY McIlroy will look to put last week’s disappointment in Dubai firmly in the past with victory in the Mission Hills World Cup, representing Ireland alongside Ryder Cup player Graeme McDowell.

The 20-year-old missed out on the inaugural Race to Dubai last week as Lee Westwood was in unstoppable form to win the season-ending Dubai world championship to top the European Tour order of merit despite McIlroy’s best efforts of four sub-70 rounds.

But the new world number 10 has a chance to end the year on a high by coming out on top against the defending champions Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson of Sweden, after four days of alternating foursomes and fourballs.

“It is very easy to stay motivated at the end of the year. I want to play the best I can for my partner, I don’t want to let him down.

“We are playing for our country, which is a huge honour. I don’t think there would be any reason why you wouldn’t be motivated,” said McIlroy.

“It’s a new challenge for me. Graeme has played at Mission Hills before and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s my first taste of the World Cup and I don’t think there should be any reason why I shouldn’t be motivated. I’m going to go out there and give it my best shot and it would be a great title to win.”

McIlroy and McDowell, who made his first Ryder Cup appearance last year, teamed up to win three out of four matches in September as Great Britain and Ireland won the Vivendi Trophy.

“There’s a lot of good teams this week, but we know we are one of the favourites coming in,” said 30-year-old McDowell.