World Number One Rory McIlroy hopes a change of venue can improve his fortunes in the WGC – Cadillac Match Play.
The tournament has moved to TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, with McIlroy having only ever contested the event in the Arizona desert previously.
A runner-up finish to Hunter Mahan in 2012 was the Northern Irishman’s best performance at Dove Mountain, but McIlroy only reached day three twice in six years.
Being involved on Friday is guaranteed this year with the new round robin format – McIlroy faces former US PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner on Wednesday before playing FedEx Cup winners Brandt Snedeker and Billy Horschel, with only the top player progressing to the last 16 on Saturday.
“I look at this golf course, Harding Park, over the last couple of days and I like what I see,” said McIlroy.
“It's my first time here so, I’m excited for the week. I feel like I've drawn quite a tough group - a lot of good players, couple of FedExCup champions and a Major Champion in there. I need to play well to progress, but I feel like my game is in good shape and hopefully ready to go.”
McIlroy and Horschel faced each other in the 2007 Walker Cup, which America won 12 ½- 11 ½ after Horschel came out on top in two of their three encounters at Royal County Down.
“Fortunately he's mellowed considerably since then,” said McIlroy. “We've got a much better relationship now than we did after that Walker Cup.
“It was tough - I missed a three or four footer on the last hole to lose to him on the first day, and then I was really up for that second match on the second day and I was able to beat him 3 and 2. It will be fun.
“When I saw the group, it's good because I feel like I get along pretty well with the three guys that I am going to play the start of this week. You are going to have to play well regardless no matter who you get in this tournament. Whenever I saw I was playing Billy, I sort of had a little chuckle to myself.
“You have got to drive the ball well here - the rough is juicy in areas. So playing from the fairway is going to be an advantage.
“It would be nice to have a new more chances to win tournaments, get myself into contention. I feel like the game is right there, it really is.
“I feel like I'm hitting the ball well, doing most things, I'm happy with everything in my game just a matter of going out there and maybe playing a little bit more and giving myself opportunities to get into contention and play.”
While McIlroy is this week’s top seed in the 64-man field, he is all too aware of the dangers of World Number Two Jordan Spieth, fresh from his four shot Masters Tournament triumph.
However, Spieth himself acknowledged that he still has work to do to be compared to the four-time Major winner.
“I still think I have a long way to go to where I could be considered [a rival to McIlroy],” said Spieth. “I think I'm off to a good start.
“I don't like to think much about it because his success - I can't compare what I've done to what he's done.
“Certainly he's had some more years to do so, but still in order to have a rivalry, you almost need to be competing against each other consistently at the highest level, and that hasn't happened yet.
“It's happened maybe a couple of times, but all in all Rory and I haven't been battling it out in an event. I'd love to play against him.”
