Rory McIlroy is looking forward to seeing golf take its place at “the centre of the sports world” as the PGA Tour returns from its three-month suspension.
The Northern Irishman will tee up at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday as a star-studded field looks to mark the resumption from lockdown in style.
Each of the world’s top five players will be at Colonial Country Club, with number one McIlroy starting in a mouth-watering group alongside second-placed Jon Rahm and third-ranked Brooks Koepka in what should provide a spectacle fit for the occasion.
“I’ve got eyes on Rory,” said Koepka. “That’s the goal, to get back to number one in the world. That’s the whole point of playing: to be the best.
“If I take care of my business, then I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t get back to that.”
There will be no play at 8.46am, with a moment’s silence held in honour of George Floyd, who prosecutors claim was knelt on and killed by police for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis last month, prompting widespread civil unrest.
The move has found widespread support, with Koepka describing it as “really special”, Jordan Spieth calling for the idea to be extended “however long we need to” and McIlroy praising “a wonderful gesture”.
