Rory McIlroy drops down tour pyramid to sample Egyptian event

Imagine Lionel Messi playing soccer for Barcelona's B team or Sachin Tendulkar batting against second XI cricketers and it is possible to picture the scene that awaits Rory McIlroy this week.       

The world number nine, a linchpin of Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup campaign two weeks ago, will trade blows with the second tier golfers on the Challenge Tour when he competes at the Egyptian Open.                                           

McIlroy, who competed for a first prize of one million euros ($1.39 million) at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio in August, will pick up a cheque for 28,000 euros if he triumphs on Saturday. 

"I am here to help promote the event but the bottom line for me is about winning," said the 21-year-old Briton on the eve of the tournament.                                           

"I'd love to win here, there are at least 12 world ranking points available and that would do me no harm at all.                           

"People might think it's not a great field because it is the Challenge Tour but I played amateur golf with a lot of these boys and there are some very talented players out here so it will take great golf to win," added the Northern Irishman.                         

The next best world-ranked player competing in Cairo this week is number 223 Oscar Floren of Sweden.