George Coetzee

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Coetzee not bowed by McIlroy

George Coetzee will go head to head with World No 2 Rory McIlroy on Wednesday in what most observers will see as a hugely daunting task.

For not only is McIlory, already the reigning US Open champion at 22, currently recognised as one of the most exciting young golfing talents on the globe, but Coetzee will be having to play him on turf that is foreign to him but not so to the Northern Irishman.

The last time the 25-year-old South African was in the United States was more than five years ago in his college days - and his stay lasted only four months.

Why such a short time?

“San Diego,” Coetzee explained, “is a pretty nice place to be - there’s a lot of other good things you can do other than play golf.

“There was no-one else to a blame but myself. After four months I couldn’t break 80.

“I guess we partied a lot. We went to Tijuana (across the Mexican border) one night - I don’t know if the coach knows it, but I guess he will now - and only got back very late. I got into big trouble for that.”

Coetzee along with fellow South African Ernie Els, qualified for the WGC-Accenture World Match Play championship only because Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey withdrew and Coetzee has been drawn to play second seeded McIleroy and Els the first seed Luke Donald because Els, a former World No 1, fell below Coetzee on the world rankings at the weekend.

Coetzee has yet to win on the European Tour, but he had eight top 10 finishes last season, including a play-off defeat in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, and two weeks ago he tied McIlroy for fifth place in Dubai and although he has yet to play in the same group as McIlroy he is looking forward to the contest with more optimism than apprehension

“Obviously I aspire to the things that he’s achieved in his golf. I guess he’s pretty solid in every part of his game - and hopefully on Wednesday I’ll be pretty solid in every part of mine.”

- For the official draw and tee-times,