Rory McIlroy stood on the 17th green, waving his arms this way and that.
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“I feel like previous year I didn’t do much wrong really”, added McIlroy, who did not visit Augusta before this week and opted for competitive matches in practice, the first of which he ended with a hole-in-one on the 16th on Monday against Chris Wood.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, also seeking his first major title, warns against rushing into any shot at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy is hoping this will be the year that he completes the career Grand Slam. But one thing’s for sure: if McIlroy can keep holing out from 170 yards, as he did during a practice round yesterday, his putting won’t be an issue. I hit it high. He shares a locker with Arnold Palmer.
“You know, I still feel like my time’s coming”, he said.
“I was in the bus, with my wife and a sports psychologist, and I’m like, ‘I just do not like the game right now”. The other two were some guys named Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
Back in 2011, McIlroy led by four shots going into the final round of the tournament – only to collapse and post a closing 80, 10 behind eventual victor Charl Schwartzel.
In hindsight, he acknowledges being a little overwhelmed by the moment. I know that winning golf tournaments and playing good golf takes care of that.
He passed on the chance to come in the weekend before for a few extra rounds. “Now that I’m starting to drive the ball reasonably straight and not have as many wild drives, I feel like I’m able to play and compete a lot easier, like the game is just a lot easier”. You already have a ton of focus on the golf course and really dissecting, giving it your all that week in a major.
He decided against participating in today’s traditional par-three contest and deliberately waited until Sunday evening before arriving in Georgia. I’m having a very, very hard time picking up a club’. McIlroy said he brought Monopoly and jigsaw puzzles to pass the time at his rented Masters house this week. “You look at a lot of Masters champions in the past, they have been right up there from the first day”.
The world No 1 Jason Day is relishing the prospect of a star-studded battle for the Masters, even if it costs him a third tournament win in succession and a second major title. Rickie Fowler hasn’t won a major yet, but it seems just a matter of time.
“I want to dominate”. It’s a new week and a new challenge and the way I see it I’ve got three tough days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, to put myself in a position to win a Masters championship.
The 26-year-old finished fourth in the Masters last year, his best finish in the event, six shots behind record-breaking victor Jordan Spieth.
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“He’s hitting drives so long”, Lefty said.
