Rory McIlroy sets sights on finding top form at Turkish Airlines Open
Thursday 29 October 2015 12:02, UK
Rory McIlroy hopes a return to full fitness will coincide with a return to the winner's enclosure at this week's Turkish Airlines Open.
McIlroy ruptured a ligament in his left ankle while playing football in early July, an injury that ruled him out of the defence of his Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles.
The former world No 1 returned for the PGA Championship in August and played in three FedExCup play-off events before taking part in the Frys.com Open to kick off the 2016 PGA Tour season earlier this month.
His best finish in that spell was a tie for fourth at the BMW Championship and McIlroy feels his form is starting to come around now he is able to train properly.
"I guess I'm more concerned about form than fitness at this point. My fitness is totally fine," McIlroy said at a press conference where it was confirmed next year's event will be held a new venue - the Carya Golf Club.
"I'm pretty much back to where I need to be. I've started to train the way I was before the injury again, and I'm happy about that.
"I'm trying to get my game back into the shape that I know that I can and feel like I've made a few steps in the right direction. This week is another opportunity to see where my game is, try and get into contention and try to win.
"I feel like a lot's happened and a lot of time has gone by since that last win of mine back in May (Wells Fargo Championship). I want to try and get back into contention and there is no better place than this week."
This season's European Tour still has four events remaining and McIlroy, who enjoys a 271,214-point lead over Danny Willett in the Race to Dubai, will play in the Turkish Airlines Open, WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the year-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
"It would mean an awful lot to win the Race to Dubai. I had a great chance back in 2009 to win and didn't quite; Lee [Westwood] pipped me there," McIlroy added.
"I had a great season in 2012 and was able to win with probably one of the best finishes I've had in a golf tournament, finishing with five birdies in Dubai to win the tournament and win the overall thing."
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