McIlroy is confident ahead of WGC

Rory McIlroy is confident he has the game to thrive in the United States as he heads into his first event on American soil this week.

The Northern Irishman has shot to top 20 in the world following his maiden pro victory in Dubai last month.

McIlroy faces South African Louis Oosthuizen in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona on Wednesday.

"I think the style of golf over here suits my game," says the 19-year-old.

"I hit it quite high and I'm able to get the ball to stop pretty quickly. I'm pretty long off the tee."

McIlroy could face the Tiger Woods in the third round, if both come through the opening two stages.

"We'll have to see how it goes. It would be a dream come true for me to be able to meet Tiger, just to play with him or play against him, it would be great to do.

"But I have to focus on my first match, and that's all I'm thinking about at the minute."

McIlroy was speaking after having played two practice rounds at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain near Tucson.

"I've had two good looks at the golf course now and that's nice. It's interesting. The greens are still pretty tricky.

"It probably takes a little bit of time to get used to. But the course is in great shape and it looks like it's going to be a good week."

McIlroy, who faces world number 49 Oosthuizen in Wednesday's first round at 1746 GMT, also believes his extensive matchplay experience could prove invaluable in the desert this week.

"All the amateur golf I played growing up was matchplay, playing for Ireland in the European Championships and the Home Internationals.

"Most of our amateur events in Britain are matchplay events as well, so it's a format that we have grown up with.

"And I think that my game suits match play because I make quite a lot of birdies and I'll be able to throw in the odd double bogey here and there.

"It's head to head and it gets the juices flowing. So I'm looking forward to it this week."

Graeme McDowell will face 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson in the first round while Padraig Harrington takes on Pat Perez.

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

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