- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,603
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Photo by Logan Whitton/Augusta National/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy looks to have learned a lot from winning The Masters.
He’s had advice from all of the great champions in the past, from Tiger Woods to Jack Nicklaus, but judging by his opening round it took for him to win for McIlroy to finally understand Augusta National.
The Career Grand Slam winner played with a calm assurance on Thursday, allowing the score to come to him when he was out of position.
But while he said he has learned from his own experience, Nicklaus gave him some crucial advice right before he teed off on Thursday, which helped him take an opening round lead.
You must be registered for see images attach
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
What Jack Nicklaus told Rory McIlroy right before he teed off at The Masters
Before McIlroy began his Masters title defence, the man who has won the event more than anyone else, Nicklaus, spoke to him on the practice range.
Speaking on Sky Sports before his second round, McIlroy revealed what the 18-time major winner told him. He said, “‘No f—–g double bogeys’. Apparently, he thought I made too many last year.”
McIlroy made a string of double bogeys, including two on the final day, to grind out his first Masters win. He’d have won running away without those mistakes, and Nicklaus told him to cut them out.
He went double bogey-less during his first round on his way to a score of 67, and he said he felt far more at home than he ever has before at Augusta.
Rory McIlroy reveals key to first round success
McIlroy said that after winning The Masters last year, any sense of imposter syndrome that he had at this event before had lessened significantly.
He said, “I feel like I’ve always been, as I’ve played this tournament more and more, I’ve become more comfortable with the golf course. And then I’ve now found myself more and more comfortable with where I sit in the tournament, having won last year.
“Feeling, I guess, like I belong a little bit more and having that freedom out on the golf course. Yesterday was a great day, and I need to continue that and hopefully drive it a bit better. But I need to think my way around the golf course like I did yesterday.”
Composure is key to winning here, and it looks like McIlroy has that in bags this year.
Continue reading...
