Mcilroy’s new hair

Rory McIlroy has revealed a new hairdo for this week’s Hong Kong open.

The Irish superstar has given his big, black semi-affro some blond highlights.

McIlroy revealed the new look on the eve of the Hong Kong Open, where he it hoping to go one better than his second place last year.

The UBS Hong Kong Open burst to life in the centre of Hong Kong with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance greeting star players Grégory Bourdy, John Daly, Liang Wen-chong, Graeme McDowell and McIlroy to the $2.5 million showpiece.

The longest running sporting event in Hong Kong, the UBS Hong Kong Open is one of the most sought after titles in golf with defending champion Bourdy, Daly, Liang, McDowell and McIlroy desperate to get their hands on the famous trophy at the Hong Kong Golf Club on Sunday.

Bourdy is hoping to become the first player in over 40 years to successfully defend the prestigious title. The last man to do so was Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yung-yo in 1964.

 “My aim is a simple one: to have a successful defence of the tournament,” said the Frenchman at UBS’s lavish headquarters in the centre of Hong Kong.

“It is such a great event and has such great traditions that it was a real honour to win here last year. Every time I look at the trophy I see some of the great names of golf that have won here and it makes me very proud and also makes me want to do my best to play well and try to win again.”

The man Bourdy beat into second place last year, World Number Ten McIlroy would love to go one better than his runner-up place of the previous two editions of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The Northern Irishman, sporting some new, funky blonde highlights in his unmistakeable hairstyle, was beaten in an unforgettable sudden-death play-off with Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei in 2008 before Bourdy beat him to the title 12 months ago.

“I would love to win the tournament, especially after coming so close in the past two years,” confirmed McIlroy. “I don’t think that I could have done any more in 2008 because I came up against Lin Wen-tang who was making birdies from all over the place; and then last year Greg was just too good for us all.

“I finished on 17 under par last year and I think that most other years that would have been good enough over the Hong Kong Golf Club but not with Greg playing so well. Hopefully this year it’s my turn.”