- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,216,753
- Reaction score
- 59
AUGUSTA, Ga. — No double bogeys.
That was the advice that Jack Nicklaus gave to Rory McIlroy at the practice facility on Thursday before the 90th Masters, only he added a certain expletive, according to McIlroy, who shared this during a pre-round interview with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis on Friday.
McIlroy noted that Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner and six-time winner of the Green Jacket, didn't like all the doubles McIlroy made last year when he won the title for the first time in a sudden-death playoff to complete the career Grand Slam and collect his fifth major. McIlroy made four double bogeys during the 2025 tournament, including two in the final round.
More: Masters leaderboard, score, pairings, videos, more
On Thursday, McIlroy followed directions. He posted 5-under 67 and made just one bogey at No. 3. He shared the first-round lead with Sam Burns, becoming just the seventh defending champion to hold or share the first round lead the following year.
Jordan Spieth was the last to do so in 2016 and finished T-2. Nicklaus is the only one of the six to go on to repeat in 1966. Nicklaus, for one, wouldn’t put it past McIlroy to follow suit.
“I think Rory is talented enough to be able to play it,” Nicklaus said. “Rory's got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat.”
But Nicklaus stopped short of sharing his words of wisdom to McIlroy. "No f---ing double bogeys," McIlroy said in his pre-round interview. “Apparently he thought I made too many last year.” The video clip already has been scrubbed from the Internet.
So far so good on Friday. McIlroy made one bogey on the front nine and is sole leader of the tournament.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jack Nicklaus had some blunt advice for Rory McIlroy at 2026 Masters
Continue reading...
That was the advice that Jack Nicklaus gave to Rory McIlroy at the practice facility on Thursday before the 90th Masters, only he added a certain expletive, according to McIlroy, who shared this during a pre-round interview with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis on Friday.
McIlroy noted that Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner and six-time winner of the Green Jacket, didn't like all the doubles McIlroy made last year when he won the title for the first time in a sudden-death playoff to complete the career Grand Slam and collect his fifth major. McIlroy made four double bogeys during the 2025 tournament, including two in the final round.
More: Masters leaderboard, score, pairings, videos, more
On Thursday, McIlroy followed directions. He posted 5-under 67 and made just one bogey at No. 3. He shared the first-round lead with Sam Burns, becoming just the seventh defending champion to hold or share the first round lead the following year.
Jordan Spieth was the last to do so in 2016 and finished T-2. Nicklaus is the only one of the six to go on to repeat in 1966. Nicklaus, for one, wouldn’t put it past McIlroy to follow suit.
You must be registered for see images attach
“I think Rory is talented enough to be able to play it,” Nicklaus said. “Rory's got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat.”
But Nicklaus stopped short of sharing his words of wisdom to McIlroy. "No f---ing double bogeys," McIlroy said in his pre-round interview. “Apparently he thought I made too many last year.” The video clip already has been scrubbed from the Internet.
So far so good on Friday. McIlroy made one bogey on the front nine and is sole leader of the tournament.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jack Nicklaus had some blunt advice for Rory McIlroy at 2026 Masters
Continue reading...
