Rory McIlroy, the 34-year-old Northern Irish golfer, continues his pursuit of a first Masters Green Jacket, which would complete his career grand slam. Despite 12 cuts and seven top-10s in 15 starts at Augusta National Golf Club, McIlroy has yet to sustain his brilliance over four rounds.
Since 2014, the Masters has become an elusive goal for McIlroy. He has experimented with various approaches, including playing fewer tournaments and seeking psychological guidance. However, his efforts have not yielded the desired results.
In 2022, McIlroy finished second to Scottie Scheffler, his best Masters finish. This year, he has made changes to his preparation, including a trip to Las Vegas to work with Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods’ former coach.
McIlroy believes that maintaining normalcy and staying relaxed is crucial for his success. He has also focused on improving his weaknesses, such as putting, and elevating his strengths.
One key factor that has hindered McIlroy at the Masters is his inability to start strong. Since 2009, he has had only two sub-70 Thursday rounds. This year, with the opening round expected to be completed on Friday morning due to weather disruptions, a hot start will be essential.
McIlroy will play his first two rounds alongside world No. 1 Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. He is determined to overcome his past struggles and finally claim the elusive Green Jacket.
