US Masters champion Rory McIlroy mania inspiring Macau Open home charge
Kelvin Si targeting glory on home soil in October tournament after being motivated by Northern Irish Open fervour for world No 2
Watching Rory McIlroy being roared on by his army of home fans at the Open Championship has awakened a desire in Kelvin Ngai Si to win in front of his own supporters at this year’s SJM Macau Open.
After completing his career grand slam at the US Masters in April, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy received fervent backing for last month’s Open at Royal Portrush, where he finished in a tie for seventh.
And Macau’s Si, who is making his Asian Tour debut this year, is hoping for a taste of the adulation heaped on the world No 2 when his home tournament gets under way on October 16.
“This ranks really high in my targets for the year,” Si said. “I was watching The Open and saw Rory have home fans really cheering him on, and I really want to win in front of a home crowd.”
Si finished in a share of 65th alongside South Africa’s David Meyers in last year’s tournament, but on the same Macau Golf and Country Club course where it is staged, he tied for 19th in this year’s International Series Macau.
“It was important that I proved to myself I could play well on the professional stage, and it gives me a lot more confidence going into the tournament in October,” Si said.