GOLF TOUR NEWS:RORY McILROY has said he hopes to finish the year among the world's top 50 and ensure his place at next year's Majors when the Alfred Dunhill Championship begins in South Africa today.
The 19-year-old from Co Down, whose two rookie year European Tour runner-up finishes have propelled him to number 49 in the world, can secure his spot in 2009's four Majors and three World Golf Championship events over the next fortnight.
"My goal is to just try and go higher and higher up the world rankings. Hopefully, I can stay in the top 50 to get into the Masters and the others," McIlroy said yesterday.
"I've been playing well the last couple of months and hopefully I can keep that going and maybe go close in one of these events in South Africa."
McIlroy, regarded as one of the finest emerging talents in golf, has claimed seven top-10 European Tour finishes this year including his two recent second places.
He narrowly missed out on winning the European Masters in September, losing a play-off to Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin in Switzerland and was edged out by Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, again in extra holes, for last month's Hong Kong Open title.
McIlroy, who will tee off at next week's final tour event of the year at the South African Open Championship in the Western Cape provincial town of Paarl, is also keen to make the most of the good weather before returning home for Christmas.
"It's fantastic here. It's a beautiful place and a great golf course. I'm really looking forward to this week because it's always nice to get a bit of sunshine on your back before you go home for Christmas," McIlroy said.
"I'm just trying to get a feel for it. It's so hot, you don't want to do too much and tire yourself out for the tournament. I had a little bit of practice and that was it. (I am) ready to go for tomorrow."
Along with McIlroy, the Irish interest in the competition includes Gary Murphy, Jonathan Caldwell, Gareth Maybin, Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane.
Meanwhile, a recent surfing accident has forced Adam Scott to pull out of the Australian Open, robbing a tournament once described as the world's fifth major of one its top drawcards.
Scott dislocated his right kneecap while swimming in the ocean forcing him to withdraw from the championship starting at Royal Sydney today.
Scott's accident and Michael Campbell's shoulder injury leaves Darren Clarke to spearhead the overseas challenge.
Clarke planned to play in the Australian Open two years ago but withdrew following the death of his wife from breast cancer.
"I felt very poorly for having to pull out of the tournament. I try and honour my commitments whenever I can, but I think most people understood," he said.
"This year is the first opportunity I've had to come back down again since, so I'm delighted to be back."
WOMEN'S TOUR: Annika Sorenstam's presence in her farewell event will be no distraction to the rest of a competitive field vying for the Dubai Women's Masters title this weekend.
Among those out to spoil the Swede's last hurrah from today at Emirates Golf Course will be South Korean teenager Ami Yang - and Sorenstam's compatriot Sophie Gustafson.
"For me, it's just another tournament, and I won't be doing anything differently," said 19-year-old Yang. It will be nothing new for her if she does beat Sorenstam - because she did just that in the veteran's last tournament on home soil, the Scandinavian TPC in August .
Gustafson said: "Annika has been the best player in the world, because she is very consistent. I don't think we are going to see another player like her on the tour for a long, long time."
Leopard Creek
Course:Parkland near Kruger National Park.
Length:7,249 yards. Par: 72.
Prizemoney:€1 million, €166,660 for the winner
Field:156.
Defending champion:John Bickerton won after Ernie Els put two balls in the water on the final hole.
Course record:Trevor Immelman 63 in 2003.
On TV:Sky Sports 2 Thursday and Friday 8.30-10.30. Sky Sports 3 Saturday and Sunday 10.30-14-30.
Weather:Wet and overcast with temperatures in the 70s.
