Rory McIlroy is set to lose plenty of his Stateside fan base to Jordan Spieth with US fans finding a new golfing idol despite his best-ever finish in a Masters.
The 20-year Spieth has set heart beats racing for four days in the maiden Masters while McIlroy has again been found wanting on the Georgia golfing gem.
McIlroy did post a face-saving final round 69 that put him into a share of 8th place at level par and a best Augusta result since finishing T15th in 2011.
It is the second week in succession McIlroy has turned around three average displays with the sort of golf we have come to expect from the double Major winner.
McIlroy’s 26th round of his sixth Masters was a mix of six birdies, including three in succession from the seventh, but also three bogeys and two of those on par fives.
Jordan Spieth finishes joint second in his first Major and now set to steal much of Rory McIlroy’s US fan base.
“I finished even par for the tournament and I’ve finished even par on the par fives, and that’s not good enough around here,” he said.
“You try and play the par fives at least 10 under par and if you look at some of the leaders I think that’s what they’ll finish on, somewhere around that for the par fives and that will obviously be good enough to win.
“So I’ll come back next year, try and putt a little better and play the par fives better and you never know.”
And to his enormous credit, and despite some TV analysts suggesting McIlroy needs a change in caddy, he was his usual bubbly self ahead of a fortnight’s break.
“I’ve played well. I’ve driven the ball as well as I have, ever,” he said.
“I’m driving the ball so well, so long, and for the most par straight, and I’ve given myself so many opportunities for birdies.
“I’m just not holing the putts that I need to or that I should.
“So I’ve got a couple of weeks off to work on that and I’ll hopefully come back to the Tour with a little more confidence in my short game and if my long game’s still there it looks like it will be a good season.”
And McIlroy will be delighted to learn he finished tops in ‘Driving Distance’ over the four days with an average drive of 304-yards and about a yard more than Bubba Watson.
However he only average 13 of 18 ‘Greens in Regulation’ over the four days.
“I feel as though I’ve learnt a lot more about myself at this year’s Masters, and that’s pretty much the case coming back here every year,” he said.
“I feel more comfortable here. I feel like I can go out and play my game and hit the shots. I’m definitely not as tentative around this place as I used to be.
“I’m becoming a lot more aggressive and hitting iron shots closer. And I think that’s a good thing because I just feel more comfortable on the golf course.
“I’m not as scared with some of the trouble, the runoffs because I now know what to expect.”
His next event will be the May 1st commencing Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow where McIlroy shot a final round 62 in 2010 to capture his first PGA Tour event.
The fourth round of this Charlotte year’s event will also be the occasion of McIlroy’s 25th birthday, and that will put him five year’s older than Spieth, and easily golf’s new sweetheart.
“Jordan doesn’t play like a 20 year old,” he said
“He plays like a seasoned veteran. I wouldn’t say that any part of his game really stands out. But everything is just so solid. He plays to his strengths. He’s very composed for a 20 year old.
“And that’s why he’s had success so early on because he can control his emotions and he’s mature. He’s not your typical 20 year old. He plays like he’s been out here for a long time.
“That’s the thing, I think that’s one of his biggest strengths. Mentally he’s really good.”
However after waiting eight months for the Masters, the world’s best golfers have 10 weeks to the next Major, the June 12thstaring US Open at Pinehurst in North Carolina.
It will McIlroy’s first appearance on the course where the late Payne Stewart won in 1999 and Kiwi Michael Campbell kept Tiger Woods are arm’s reach to lift the US Open trophy six years later.
“After waiting all this time, and what with the build-up for Augusta, I’m good for the US Open,” he said.
“My game felt really good in Houston last weekend, I shot 65. And today was a little better. But at least that gives me something to work on the next couple of weeks heading to Charlotte and obviously building up towards the U.S. Open.
“At least I figured something out with my putting and I can go with that. It’s something to really work on and something to get right.
“So hopefully I can start seeing a few more putts go in, and get more confidence, because there’s no real ‑‑ my long game is where I need it to be. It’s just taking advantage of the good shots that I’m hitting.”
And waiting for McIlroy when he ended his round was fiancée, Carolina Wozniacki having swapped her Par 3 Contest unfashionable white overalls and decked out in a long flowing white dress.
As well, the Dane had washed the crimson from her long hair and is now back to being a blond.
