Rory McIlroy To Play British Masters

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 18 September 2017

The former world number one has confirmed his spot in next week's British Masters after missing out on a spot in the Tour Championship

Rory McIlroy To Play British Masters

10 years to the day that he turned pro, the European Tour has announced that Rory McIlroy will play in next week's British Masters at Close House.

The four-time major winner will make his first appearance in the event since 2008.

The Ulsterman had initially said that he would play the FedEx Cup Playoff events before the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which is the week after the British Masters.

However, he failed to reach the top-30 of the FedEx Cup rankings and missed out on the season-ending Tour Championship.

McIlroy told the European Tour, "I kind of had it in the back of my mind that if I didn't make the Tour Championship then there was a chance to tee it up at Close House, so I have decided to do that before finishing my season off the next week at the Dunhill Links.

“Teeing it up next week gives me one more chance to end 2017 on a high as well.

"If I can sign off the year with a win or two in Newcastle and then St Andrews I would take so many positives into my six-week recovery period when I am going to reset mentally and physically and concentrate on getting myself in the right shape for next year.”

Tournament host Lee Westwood said, “The first time I played with Rory was actually in the British Masters with Darren (Clarke) at the Forest of Arden, so it’s great to have him back playing in the tournament."

The field also includes Masters champion Sergio Garcia as well as defending champion Alex Noren, Tommy Fleetwood, 2015 winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Ross Fisher, Andy Sullivan and Martin Kaymer.

The event takes place at Close House near Newcastle, which ranks 100th in the Golf Monthly Top 100 course rankings.

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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV

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