Rory recovers after travelling marathon
Rory McIlroy can finally unpack for the first time in a week, Darren Clarke is aiming to take the Claret Jug, which he has brought to Bermuda, to more pubs than John Daly and Charl Schwartzel is considering starting a collection of brightly jackets.The year's four major winners descended on Port Royal Golf Course yesterday for the opening Pro-Am event of the PGA Grand Slam and were in good spirits ahead of today's first round.McIlroy arrived in Bermuda yesterday morning after a mammoth schedule that saw him play in seven cities in seven days in China, and only leave Hong Kong on Sunday night.The US Open champion flew to the Island via Los Angeles and finally arrived at Port Royal yesterday lunch time.“I actually unpacked for the first time this morning,” said McIlroy after the Pro Am. “I had to put a few things into laundry because I was in China and I didn't know . . . I wasn't sure what state things would come back in.“It's nice to actually stay put for a while. It's a beautiful place and I wish I could spend a little longer here but I'm only here for three days, unfortunately.”The long journey didn't seem to do his golf much harm. The Northern Irishman struck the ball well and played several impressive shots including an approach at 18 that saw the ball finish just two feet from the pin.“I feel fine,” said McIlroy, “Chubby (Chandler, his agent) gave me a couple of his sleeping pills that knocked me out for 11 hours.“Surprisingly I actually hit it (the ball) really well, even coming off all those flights I feel like my game is in nice shape. I'm really looking forward to the next couple of days.”The same couldn't be said for Darren Clarke, who came straight off the course from playing in the Pro Am and went back to the driving range.Clarke was at the course early yesterday, but said practising beforehand didn't do him much good and hoped things would be better today.“I was up early practising and stuff, but it didn't do me much good,” said Clarke, “I need to go and do a little bit more.“I thought the course was good, the par threes are very, very strong, all of them. You've got a few chances out there, but if you miss in the wrong place, you're dead.”The Open champion has been taking the Claret Jug everywhere with him since his triumph at Royal St George's, and said he was on course to have it seen by more people than John Daly.“It's fantastic to have it (the Jug) and it's been doing a lot of traveling with me,” said Clarke. “I think I may be second in all-time names on the jug that have been out in pubs. I think Mr Daly might have had a few more than me but I think I'm pushing him hard and I might get past him.“I like to take it out and let people, especially at home, see it, otherwise they wouldn't get a chance to see it.”Clarke's fellow major winners – Schwartzel, McIlroy and Keegan Bradley – all have trophies that are little bit more cumbersome than the Claret Jug, although Schwartzel also has a Green Jacket and maybe a pink one too if he wins this week.“It would be great to get a pink jacket,” said Schwartzel, “I could start a collection of colours of jackets.”* Click here and here for more pictures.