Rory McIlroy is the very last out today (Thurs) at Augusta National but he’s hoping a new golf ball can propel him to the top of the Masters leader-board.
A major championship may seem a strange time to be putting a new golf ball into play but if it helps McIlroy get fitted with an Augusta National member’s green jacket then well and good.
Indeed, McIlroy revealed he put a new golf ball in the bag for last Friday’s second round of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
McIlroy was already struggling after an opening two-over tally and probably thought to himself ‘what the heck!’
“It was last Friday at the Valero (Texas Open) that was a good litmus test for me to try a new ball”, said McIlroy.
“I just went back to a golf ball that’s a little more stable in the wind, a little less spin, so just getting to grips with that again was good. I’m excited about that, I think that’s going to be really good for me.”
McIlroy’s ball, it seems was a TaylorMade TP5x, steadied his sinking San Antonio ship, and while he could manage just one birdie, he did handle the windier conditions on the TPC San Antonio course, much better despite not contesting the weekend.
“I’ve used the ball this week and it’s been good, so we’ll see how things go,” he said.
“I just need to keep patience, stay disciplined, and try not to make big numbers,” he said of how to play himself into contention on Sunday.
“It’s very, for me anyway, it feels like a very negative way to think, but it’s the way to play around this place. You don’t have to do anything spectacular.”
McIlroy’s last out tee-time on day one of the Masters has certainly surprised many and has others scratching their heads as to when’s the last time McIlroy was charged with bringing in the flagsticks, which is a common golfing term for last out.
MEANTIME
Shane Lowry tees off this week in a seventh straight Masters sporting a new logo on the upper left side of all his golfing attire.
Lowry signed a mega-million Euro deal for three years with the Dublin-based e-commerce company, Wayflyer.
“I take huge pride in flying the flag for Ireland everywhere I compete around the world. Throughout my career I’ve been very fortunate to partner many Irish companies and brands that have achieved global success,” Lowry said.
“This partnership with Wayflyer is particularly exciting for me, as it is another truly astonishing Irish success story, featuring a young, talented and committed workforce achieving extraordinary things on the world stage.
It’s known Lowry already has a close affinity with Wayflyer having invested in the company during a funding round in February. It’s reported the start-up company is now valued at $1.6 billion.
IRISH TEE TIMES (Irish Time) – Day one 86th Masters.
Padraig Harrington – 1.11pm
Shane Lowry – 3.01pm
Seamus Power – 5.24pm
Rory McIlroy – 7.04pm
