Five years after the sad sight of Rory McIlroy looking out from behind a tree at Augusta’s 10th hole and the four-time Major winner says he’s no fear whatsoever in tackling the downhill par 4.
McIlroy headed into the final round of the 2011 Masters leading by four shots and for all intentions purposes looking to become a Masters champion.
However the sight of the famed green jacket started to fade when McIlroy stood on the 10th tee after moments earlier finding a fairway bunker at the ninth and then hitting the top of the bunker with his second.
Five years ago and the sad sight of Rory McIlroy losing his way and the Masters to the left side of the 10th fairway.
He was now leading by one when McIlroy carved his tee shot way left off the 10th and into the tree line where no-one ever goes.
It’s one place on the course he Augusta patrons still won’t be able to walk and it’s a place that proved the downfall of McIlroy’s demise in then being forced to chip his ball back to the fairway and then eventually walk off with a triple bogey.
McIlroy proceeded to shoot a round of 80 and slide to a share of 15th place.
But now five years on and with four Major Championship titles to his credit, including winning a U.S. Open some weeks after imploding at the Masters, McIlroy has no fear whatsoever in playing the 10th at Augusta.
“I don’t have any problem with the 10th as I play it much differently now than
compared to 2011,” said McIlroy.
“I used to hit driver up the left close to the tree line but now I realize it doesn’t matter whether you hit driver or 3-wood or 5-wood, as long as you get it down to the bottom of the hill.
“So I’ve changed my strategy on that hole because of what happened there in 2011, but it never really comes into my mind anymore.”
