World number one welcomes new format

Rory McIlroy is happy with the new format of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship, saying it gives players more opportunity.

The match-play format was changed for 2015, with players put into pools before the knockout stages begin at TPC Harding Park.

World number one McIlroy has been drawn with Americans Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker and Billy Horschel.

"When I heard of the new format last year, I think it's good," the Northern Irishman said.

"It's not just good for the players, if we don't get off to the best start we still have the chance to get to the weekend. It's good for us, it's good for the people watching on TV. It's good for the people coming to watch here, good for the sponsors obviously.

"I feel like I've drawn quite a tough group. A few good players, a couple of FedEx Cup champions and a major champion there, so I'll need to play well to progress, but I feel like my game is in good shape and I'm ready to go.

"In an 18-hole match it's a bit of a lottery because you can get a guy who's just got really hot, better than 85-95 per cent of the field and you're going home. It's just the way it is.

"So, it gives players a better chance to progress and if they are playing well it seems like a fair format for an 18-hole matchplay."

McIlroy said his approach to match-play was similar to stroke-play.

"If anything I might play with a little more intensity in match-play, rather than stroke-play, but I don't feel like I get more or less aggressive in either format, I stick to the game plan and obviously sometimes you have to react what the other guy does," he said.

"But for the most part I feel that I play a similar game in both formats. I definitely play better when I'm happy, not when I'm angry.

"Anger isn't really an emotion that I get too often. I rarely get angry, but I feel that when you're in a good place and you're happy it lets you accept things a little easier and you play your best golf."