World number two Rory McIlroy's attempt to find some form ahead of next week's Masters tournament sees him take part in an event on the PGA Tour he would normally ignore - the Texas Open in San Antonio.

Normally the top players on the USPGA Tour don't pay the Greg Norman-designed course much attention. Last year only two players ranked in the top 50 and none in the top 15 played on the course that finished the year as the second-highest overall scoring average on the PGA Tour, behind the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

However this year, McIlroy will be joined by world number nine Matt Kuchar, number 12 Ian Poulter and number 15 Charl Schwartzel in a star-studded field.

Since his record-breaking eight-shot win at last year's PGA Championship, the Ulsterman's game has taken a dramatic down-turn in form.

He missed the cut in Abu Dhabi before walking off the course as defending champion at the Honda Classic and then lost his first match at the Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Nevertheless, McIlroy isn't too concerned about his apparent lack of form going into the season's first major.

"I don't care if I miss 10 cuts in a row - if I win a major," McIlroy said. "I don't care. I mean, that's what it's all about, winning the big tournaments."

The 23-year-old is hoping to make his second cut of the season in San Antonio, after finishing the Houston Open last week in a tie for 45th position.

While Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson aren't attracted to the TPC course as Masters prep, another big name shares McIlroy's view of getting in one more tournament before heading to Augusta National.

"All Rory has to worry about is peaking the right weeks," said Padraig Harrington, who is also in the field this week.

"His game is plenty good enough that when he does peak, he can lap fields."

McIlroy managed a full practice round on Tuesday but managed only the front nine on Wednesday after heavy rains arrived.

Golf 365