RORY MCILROY WENT into 2013 targeting a career Grand Slam of majors and determined to remain on top of the world rankings.
McIroy has endured a torrid time of it so far this year and is without a tournament win. He finished at +7 last weekend at the BMW Championship and was eliminated from the Fed Ex Cup race.
McIlroy has long been overtaken by Tiger Woods as the world’s top ranked golfer. Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson, Masters and The Open respectively, have leapfrogged the Holywood native in recent months and Justin Rose is .01 ranking point behind.
Rose and Henrik Stenson, the world number six, are both well placed at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend. Stenson is in first place and [at 4:15pm today] is on -13, eight shots clear of Dustin Johnson. Rose is in third place on -4.
The total prize purse, to be shared between the 30 competing golfers, is $8m. The winner will take home a cheque for $1.4m. If tournament win for Stenson will elevate him past McIlroy while Rose needs only to finish in the top 15 to surpass the Northern Irishman.
Here is how Stenson consolidated his lead after his superb opening round of 64:
YouTube credit: PGA TOUR