McIlroy leans toward full-time U.S. golf

AKRON, Ohio -- When Rory McIlroy said during the U.S. Open awards presentation that he likes it so much on this side of the pond that he might move here, he wasn't kidding. Or at most, he was half-kidding.

McIlroy, the pride of Holywood, Northern Ireland, said Wednesday he is shopping for houses in Florida and leaning toward playing on the PGA Tour next year. That would make him an almost certain entry in the tour's 2012 FedEx Cup Playoffs, which will begin with the Barclays at Bethpage Black next August.

"Yeah, I'm definitely looking towards coming back and playing a full schedule over here," he said during his news conference at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, his first appearance in the U.S. since his eight-shot triumph at Congressional CC outside Washington, D.C., in June.

Since then, McIlroy has had a bumpy time under intense scrutiny, giving him fresh appreciation for Tiger Woods. "I'm nowhere near in the same position he's in, but to have that level of focus and keep it going from '97 to '08 . . . it is incredible, really," said the 22-year-old who has been called by some fellow pros the heir to Woods' legacy.

The Bridgestone, which begins Thursday at Firestone Country Club, marks Woods' return after knee and Achilles injuries kept him out for nearly three months. "There was a hole in the game, there just was," said Hunter Mahan, who will be paired with McIlroy Thursday and who played nine holes with Woods and Arjun Atwal Wednesday. (Woods looked fine; he gave chipping tips to Mahan and putting pointers to Atwal.)

Chances are, Woods and McIlroy will see more of each other next year, what with the latter ready to commit to 15 American tournaments. That will be quite a departure for a young golfer who was outspoken about how the PGA Tour was not his cup of tea when he tried it last year. He particularly disliked the playoff format.

"The only thing about the FedEx was that you only got a week off after the PGA and then straight back into four weeks out of five that were pretty tough. But it's something that you just have to accept," he said, adding that he discussed his plans with PGA Tour officials Wednesday. One of those officials, executive vice president Andy Pazder, said, "If it works out that he's rejoining the PGA Tour, obviously, we're ecstatic about that. An immense talent and a personable young man, he'd be an asset for us, no question."

McIlroy said, "I feel as if my game really suits playing courses over here. I love Quail Hollow, Memorial, Akron. You play Match Play, Honda, Doral, the Masters. You have your favorite events and most of my favorite events seem to be on this side of the pond. My game suits it over here. I'm very comfortable over here."

Discomfort has shadowed him lately. He has had a much publicized breakup with a longtime girlfriend and a reported courtship of tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. He had an angry Twitter outburst after criticism from a TV commentator. He made what was seen as a spoil-sport remark about poor British Open weather. He admitted yesterday that he could have handled those situations better.

He knows that Woods has been good at avoiding such verbal pitfalls for years. And he realizes he is a long way from being in Woods' class. "I've never paid attention to the comparisons or potential, whatever they say, whether it be Tiger's 14 [majors] or Jack's 18," he said in a reference to Jack Nicklaus. "All I'm doing is looking for my second major and my fourth career win, wherever it may come."

It might come in the United States.