McIlroy loses Masters favouritism to Woods

RORY McILROY has been knocked off his perch at the top of the betting for next year’s Masters at Augusta and the Northern Irish boy wonder on Wednesday admitted he is struggling to finalise his playing schedule for the 2012 season.

The improved form of Tiger Woods in Australia over the last fortnight has seen the 14-times Major champion take over as Masters favourite – the American superstar is no bigger than 7-1, while McIlroy can be backed at 9-1 – and the Irishman explained on the eve of the World Cup how some key dates in his diary for next summer remain unfilled.

The Irish Open has been switched from its traditional slot a fortnight after the Open (to avoid a clash with the Olympics), meaning it now takes place three weeks before the Open, which is the same time the US Tour’s AT&T Championship is being staged at Congressional Country Club.

This means McIlroy either has to skip the Irish Open or turn down the chance to return to Congressional, the scene of his US Open triumph five months ago.

“I haven’t made a decision yet as to where I’m going to play that week,” said McIlroy.

“It’s a tough one because the people in Ireland want to see me play in the Irish Open and if I don’t play I know there will be a lot of comment.”

McIlroy, who is 200-1 with Paddy Power and Victor Chandler for a 2012 Grand Slam of all four Majors (and biggest at 4-9 with bet365 to win none of them), is playingin the Hong Kong Open next week, the Dubai World Championship the week after and then finishes his season in the inaugural Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok the week before Christmas.

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood has said he will rejoin the US Tour next year. The world No. 3 will compete in the Players’ Championship after missing the Sawgrass event last season and also aims to qualify for the end-of-season FedEx Cup.

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