AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 9: Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy walks out of the 13th hole during the match. … [+]
Rory McIlroy is rarely described as stern-faced. He has such a wonderful smile and such a fun personality that words can't express it.
But don't get me wrong. If you can't focus on the task at hand, you won't be as successful as he is. This week is a perfect business week for McIlroy, who begins the Masters with a focus on completing golf's Grand Slam.
He's been at it for 10 years, winning the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA in 2012 (and '14), and the British Open in 2014. It seemed like a fait accompli that McIlroy would skate in multiple green jackets at Butler Cabin, becoming just the sixth player to win a Grand Slam, but for McIlroy, the Masters was a match made in heaven by Brad Pitt. It became a quest for an Oscar.
No player has completed a Grand Slam since Tiger Woods won the British Open at St. Andrews in 2000. Along with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen to win all four of golf's majors, Tiger amassed three major championships (including one that included his fourth straight major). But it was just McIlroy and Phil Mickelson. He came within one major.
Mickelson has never won the U.S. Open and finished second six times. The pressure may have been on the left-hander when he took a one-shot lead on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot in 2006. He hit a drive to the left of the fairway into the hospitality tent, and that mistake compounded into a double bogey, costing him one shot. To Geoff Ogilvy.
McIlroy's story at Augusta National lacks the drama of a heartbreak on the final hole. He hasn't been in a position to win since 2011, when he was 21 years old.
He finished the first two rounds at 10 under par to win the Masters, but he collapsed on the back nine on Sunday, shooting an 80 and wasting a four-stroke lead, dropping to 15th place. When Charles Schwartzel celebrated a victory no one expected, he was shocked.
Woods and many other players think the only question is when McIlroy's talent will allow him to win the Masters. Most oddsmakers list him as the second most likely player to win this week behind Scottie Scheffler.
“There's no question, he'll do it at some point,” Woods said Tuesday. “Rory is too talented, too good. He's going to be playing this event for a very long time. He's going to make it. It's just a matter of when.”
McIlroy won in Dubai, Scotland (Genesis Scottish Open) and South Carolina last year. He defended his title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and finished second on the DP World Tour the following week, setting high expectations for the PGA Tour season. However, he has not competed seriously in any of his first six tournaments.
McIlroy certainly showed some momentum last week. He spent Monday and Tuesday at Augusta National, playing a quiet practice round before finishing third at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, nine shots behind Akshay Bhatia and Denny McCarthy. He shot 3.72 from the field on approaches and 1.12 on putts, finishing with a 6-under 66, according to the website datagolf.com.
Considering what I know about Augusta National, having played 54 tournament rounds so far, I wasn't in a rush to get there this week. He was reportedly the last player to officially register locally, arriving just before a scheduled session in the press room. He stayed in the interview room for 11 minutes and answered only seven questions.
McIlroy admits he's internally conflicted between prioritizing the Masters and regaining the easy-going attitude he had during his first few laps around Augusta National.
“If I were to be 18-year-old Rory and drive a Magnolia Lance for the first time, how would I feel and what would I think?” he said Tuesday. “I always feel grateful and incredibly lucky to be a part of this tournament and to be able to compete every year.
“I've improved a little bit since my first start here and I feel like I have all the tools to be successful this week. But again, the most important thing to bring those tools to the table is One thing is to enjoy it and smell the scent, maybe not roses or azaleas along the way.”
McIlroy has six top-10 finishes at the Masters, including a runner-up finish in 2022. But nothing was more important than him being the leader in the clubhouse that year, as he shot a 64 to finish three shots behind Scheffler. He refused to fall apart.
McIlroy has only topped 70 in the first round twice at Augusta National, including one sub-70 start since age 65 in 2011. He improved slightly in the second and third rounds, hitting sub-70 three times in both rounds. His best play will be announced on Sunday – seven sub-70s, including a 66 and a 68, in addition to the 64 he had two years ago, but he's not yet in a position to capitalize on his strong finish. .
Here's some good news. At 34, he is the same age Mickelson was when he won the first of his three Masters in 2004, and still nine years younger than Woods was when he won his fifth Masters. Nicklaus won his sixth Masters at age 46.
There's still time left for McIlroy. But imagine how dramatic he would be if he came to Amen Corner as a leader on Sunday. It's time for him to give himself a chance to win a Grand Slam.
