Rory McIlroy says magic-less Masters may be 'what I need' to get jacket
Rory McIlroy is still searching for his first Masters victory after winning each of the three other major tournaments at least once.
His best chance may be this year because of, not in spite of, the COVID-19 crisis that has pushed the tournament at Augusta National back five months, he said. The postponement to Nov. 12-15, rather than in April, will take some of the magic away from the event in his view and he wants to capitalize.
"I always feel there's this bit of anticipation going into Augusta, the first big event of the year. There's all this hype," McIlroy told LPGA star Michelle Wie in an Instagram Live chat, via ESPN. "It's going to be a different Masters this year. But personally, maybe selfishly, that's what I need to get the jacket."
McIlroy, ranked No. 1 in the world, has never finished better than fourth at Augusta. He has 11 career starts there and has only missed the cut once with five top-five finishes and nine top-25s, per Golfworld. In 2011 and 2018, he heartbreakingly faded away with solid leads.
He’s a four-time major winner with titles at the U.S. Open in 2011, PGA Championship in 2012 and ’14, and the Open Championship in 2014. But the 30-year-old still needs the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.
The golf schedule has been completely reset due to COVID-19 crisis, and by the time the Masters happens, if the dates hold up, the PGA Championship (Aug. 3-9) and U.S. Open (Sept. 14-20) will have been played. The Ryder Cup is holding its scheduled Sept. 25 date.
“People will be in their routine and in the flow a little bit more,” McIlroy said of the changes, via ESPN.
There’s also the course to take into consideration. McIlroy noted it could play longer than it usually does and with slower greens than in April.
That may be the case, and it may not. But months away from the new date, the star is already attempting to psyche himself up and get mentally ready for the pressure of another Masters.
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