World No. 2 Rory McIlroy admits it’s important to ride a ‘wave of momentum’ up to and including next month’s Masters.
McIlroy has two events remaining to contest ahead of the April 7th starting Masters and commencing at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.
It is McIlroy’s second straight appearance in the event hosted by a now frail-looking Palmer, and four-time Masters winning hero.
Rory McIlroy says he needs to ride a wave of momentum in the lead-up to the Masters.
McIlroy spent until Saturday last week working on his game at the exclusive Bears Club after letting slip victory in the WGC – Cadillac Championship in Miami.
And before heading north to Orlando he played a social round with his father Gerry at the also very exclusive Seminole Club in Palm Beach Gardens.
However, McIlroy’s focus now is not only on a first PGA Tour victory since banking last May’s Wells Fargo Championship but also clearly on adding a last chapter that would send him into golfing immortality to join an exclusive club of at present just five players.
“Definitely your confidence is so high but at the same time you’re thinking I’m playing this well, I have to take advantage of it, I have to play and I have to keep on this run and sort of ride this wave of momentum,” he said.
“I feel when you are in that position it’s almost automatic that you get into contention, you know, you’re almost on autopilot that you turn up the tournaments and it’s not like you’re nonchalant or complacent in anyway but, you know, if you play your game you’re going to have a chance come Sunday.
“Then it’s about being mentally the toughest on the back-9 on Sunday to get the job done. Adam, I played the last round in L.A. with Adam. I played the third round at Doral. He’s playing, very very well. He seems very confident with his overall game. I think this — I think we should bring the anchor putting back (laughter). I was all for getting rid of it. Now I’m all for keeping it.
“He’s obviously put a lot of work in with the putter and it’s paid off big time so it’s great to see. Adam has been one of the best players in the world for a long time and great players are going to get on runs like this and it’s just up to us to try and keep Adam — try to chase him down as he’s just playing fantastic golf.”
And it prompted the question to the four-time Major winner whether or not you can peak too early for the Majors and particularly what McIlroy again is striving to do when he drives down Magnolia Lane for an eighth occasion.
“Sometimes. Sometimes. But only for one event because you’ve got the U.S. Open to the PGA is in a nine, ten week span,” he said.
“I feel like you can keep that run of golf going for that long but I mean you’re basically thinking about the Masters for 7, 8 months and I’m sure there’s a time in that 7, 8 month period I wish I could go to the Masters now.
“There’s a little bit of that but then I think that’s why you have to pace yourself and have to discover the right schedule for you and the right practice routine to make sure when you get to every event you’re ready to play.
“So it’s all about peaking but, at the same time, I feel like you want your level of consistency at a level where you can compete week-in, week-out even if you don’t have your very best stuff.”
Rory McIlroy driving off the 16th during the Pro-Am (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Rory McIlroy lets it rip off the 16th hole late in his Pro-Am round. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
