Rory McIlroy explains why Augusta is his forever course
Rory McIlroy opens up on why Augusta is his forever course, from childhood memories to pure beauty.
The Masters
Rory McIlroy needs to win the Masters Tournament to become the sixth man in history to complete the career grand slam in golf.
He’s in the best position through 36 holes since 2016, when he was in solo second, one shot behind Jordan Spieth.
But McIlroy has had chances to win the Masters before, and he’s always been turned away, either by a player catching fire to pass or stay ahead of him, or by self-destructing.
Which will it be? Even he’s not sure.
“Golf tournaments are so long, and there’s so much that can happen, even in the next 36 holes,” McIlroy said on Friday after a bogey-free 66 that put in him a tie for third with Corey Conners at 6-under-par 138, two shots behind Justin Rose and one behind Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy at least showed some fight after a disappointing first round in which he was 4-under and three off the lead before making double bogeys at Nos. 15 and 17 for a 72. He caught fire on the first portion of the second nine, making four 3s in a row: birdie, birdie, par, eagle.
“My mindset was … I probably need to get to somewhere between 12- and 15-under to win this tournament,” he said. “There was plenty of time to do that … just about staying patient. I don’t think I proved anything. If anything, I just backed up the belief that I have in myself, and I — and the belief that I’m as resilient as anyone else out here. I’ve been really proud of how resilient I’ve been the whole way throughout my career, and I think today was just another example of that.”
The world is waiting for some of that resilience from McIlroy on a late Sunday Augusta afternoon.
Rory McIlroy’s close calls at the Masters
2011: In his third career start at Augusta, McIlroy led or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds, and entering the final round, he was tied with Angel Cabrera at 12-under, four shots clear of three players. McIlroy led by three shots at the turn but pulled his tee shot at No. 10 into the cabins on the left and made a triple-bogey, then four-putted No. 12 for double bogey and shot 80, dropping into a tie for 15th.
2015: McIlroy posted two good weekend scores but he was too far behind to make a run. He shot 68-66 and finished solo fourth, six shots behind Spieth. McIlroy trailed by 10 going into the final round.
2016: McIlroy shot 77-71 on the weekend after trailing Spieth by only one shot. Danny Willett wound up winning when Spieth collapsed on No. 12 on Sunday.
2018: McIlroy fired a bogey-free 65 in the third round and trailed Patrick Reed by three shots. McIlroy missed a 40-foot eagle putt attempt at No. 2, bogeyed No. 3, then bogeyed Nos. 5, 8, 11 and 14 to fall behind Reed.
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2022: McIlroy began the final round 10 shots behind Scottie Scheffler, then went out and set a torrid pace with a 64. He chipped in for birdie at No. 10, eagled No. 13 and holed out from the bunker at No. 18 but Scheffler’s 71 insured McIlroy would get no closer than three shots.
Where has it gone wrong for McIlroy?
Bad starts: Thursday’s 72, after McIlroy was 4-under through 14 holes, was his seventh consecutive opening round in the 70s. He’s average 73.14 in the first round during that span. He at least broke his trend in the second round with Friday’s 66. McIlroy has averaged 75.25 in the second round for the previous four years. The last time he posted two under-par rounds to begin the Masters was 2018 when he started 69-71.
Hitting fairways: The Augusta fairways are generously wide and inviting for bombers like McIlroy. But he’s finished among the top 10 in driving accuracy only once, in 2015 when he tied for eight by hitting 43 of 56 fairways (76.8 percent). Hitting fairways isn’t the most critical aspect of contending at the Masters but it sure helps. Through the first 36 holes this year, he’s hitting 61 percent.
The start of the second nine: Entering this year, McIlroy has averaged 4.26 at No. 10 and 4.36 at No. 11, a cumulative 36-over par. His rounds have a way of getting derailed before getting to the 12th tee.
Rory McIlroy’s record at the Masters
Starts: 16.
Cuts: 13.
Top-five finishes: Four.
Top-10 finishes: Seven.
Career earnings: $4,343,021.
Career scoring average: 71.6. First nine: 35.9. Second nine: 35.71. Amen corner: 11.97 (par 12). Par-3 holes: 3.05. Par-4 holes: 4.11. Par-5 holes: 4.58.
Career stats: Fairways, 9.4 of 14 (67.1 percent); greens in regulation, 11.4 of 18 (63.5 percent); putts per round, 29.34.
Best hole: No. 15 (29-under, 4.5).
Worst hole: No. 11 (21 over, 4.36).
