Rory McIlroy insisted he has played Augusta’s 10th hole and offering simply a passing glance at the graveyard site of last year’s Masters meltdown.
Twelve months ago McIlroy went into the final round leading by four shots at 12-under par and looking to end a 44-year Irish victory victory wait since legendary Joe Carr contested the 1967 Masters.
McIlroy displayed telltale signs of the start of a green carpeted funeral procession even if he made the turn at one over par for the day with two bogeys and a birdie.
But no one could predict it all coming horribly unstuck at the downhill par four 10th where McIlroy crashed out of all contention with a triple bogey seven after snap-hooking his drive.
Rory McIlroy and the look of despair on route to a final round 80 in the 2011 Masters.
McIlroy’s ball ricocheted off one of the thousand of Augusta pines and came to rest in between the Berckman and Peek Cabins.
The young curly haired Ulsterman was then like a dead man walking with all his dreams drowning in a sea of dropped shots in shooting a last round 80.
And as Charl Schwartzel was being fitted with the famed green jacket, McIlroy was being led away in an ambulance.
But while many who gathered around the 10th tee this week have talked of McIlroy’s wild tee shot the player in question admitted he simply gave the cabins a parting glance when playing the course ahead of this year’s first Major.
“I just had a quick glance on the way past walking down the middle of the fairway last week, and hopefully I’ll do the same thing during the week,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe how close the cabins are, like they’re only 50 yards off the tee.
“But it’s great to be back at Augusta and I played the back nine last week for a first time since last year and there was memories coming back and memories that you probably don’t want.
“It’s fine. I got that all out of the way, and just looking forward to this week and looking forward to putting myself in contention and trying to win this thing.”
And while McIlroy cried his eyes out a short time later in speaking with his mum, Rosie he again reminded everyone of the comfort he gained in receiving a phone call during the course of the following week’s Maybank Malaysian Open from Aussie great, Greg Norman.
Norman let slip Augusta success in at least three Masters including 1987 and more notably in 1996 when he went into the last day with daylight in second place but ending a country mile behind arch foe Nick Faldo.
“Of all the messages and calls I received the one from Greg Norman I got a couple of days later stands out,” said McIlroy.
“I was in Malaysia in my hotel room, and he just phoned me to talk about it.
“It was great coming from him, because he had sort of been in the same position in ’96, where Faldo won, but also in ’86, as well.
“I mean ’87, sorry. I wasn’t born then (laughing).
“So Greg’s had experience of that before, and it was great coming from him, because I’m sure he knew how I felt. He said a couple of things to me that I found very useful and I’ve cut into practice.
“I can draw on that advice in weeks like this where’s there’s so much build up and try and get create this little bubble around me and just try and get into that mode of lot letting any of the outside interference come into that bubble.
“So that was great Greg called me because he knew more than anyone else how I was feeling at that point.”
And in helping McIlroy become the second youngest winner of the Masters after Tiger Woods in 1997 will be the presence this week of his parents, Gerry and Rosie.
They were not present at Augusta last year but there’s no denying the calming presence Gerry McIlroy played some two months later in helping his only child to victory at Congressional.
“My dad is very laid back type of person, very easy-going so he wouldn’t get uptight or stressed about anything,” said McIlroy.
“Even that aura he gives off, having him around, it sort of makes everything seem a little more relaxed.
“So it’s definitely nice to have him around, and whether it’s just having breakfast with him or having dinner, it’s nice to have both my parents here.
“Maybe at the end of the week, that may be the difference or could be a big help in helping me try to win this tournament.”
