From a first time when he felt like he was walking on egg shells, Rory McIlroy will be floating on air if he wins this week’s Masters.
McIloy heads into an eighth straight Augusta appearance among upwards of a dozen favourites fighting to be fitted with the most sought-after item of apparel in golf.
Of course, much has been written McIlroy has not won on this year’s PGA Tour but then that was also the scenario in all but three of those eight Masters, and with one of those exceptions being in 2012 when he captured the Honda Classic but then posted his poorest four-round Augusta effort in sharing 40th place.
Rory McIlroy says he was treading of eggs shells when he first played in the Masters. (Image – Masters/Getty)
So don’t read anything into the fact he’s not won in his seven years this year as everything changes arriving at the front gates to notice a sign: “Augusta National Golf Club. Members Only”.
Long gone for McIlroy is the ‘Woh! Factor’ that stares at every first timer arriving at the Georgia golfing gem and with the four-time Major winner set to head down Magnolia Lane with less all the hype and baggage that clouded his appearance a year ago, so much so he’s probably in the best place he’s ever been to win the Masters.
“The first two or three years playing Augusta for me was like walking on egg shells and now I just feel a lot more comfortable in playing the golf course and simply just making my way about the grounds,” he said.
“The first I was there in 2009 I felt even afraid to take a divot but you have been there a few times you do get more comfortable with everything that is about and the tradition of the Masters.
“I understand now why every year my results have got better and that’s because I have figured the place out.”
What also is better is McIlroy’s approach to the 2016 Masters.
A year ago, McIlroy was walking on egg shells. He wasn’t himself. He shunned any Monday pre and post practice round ‘chats’ with the media saying simply: “I’m talking to you guys tomorrow (Tuesday).”
However, after Tiger Woods had ensured the Media Centre Interview Room was at bursting point, and given interest in Woods’ return to competition at Augusta, McIlroy followed Woods into the same room but to only around two-thirds capacity compared to Woods.
McIlroy’s demeanour didn’t change that much during the four rounds. He was polite and he said all the right things such as treating it like any other tournament but clearly for the early days of the 2015 Masters he was not his normal self and then when push came to shove his final round 66 was just a little too late.
Turn the clock forward twelve months and McIlroy’s not arriving into Augusta Regional Airport till Sunday night and probably won’t make his way to officially register until early afternoon Monday ahead of a nine-hole practice round.
And is a smart move, McIlroy’s skipping what he said is the ‘hassle and distraction’ of the Par 3 Contest.
“You can’t learn as much in practice rounds as actual tournaments, so I’ve learned to play the course during competitive play and because there’s nothing like missing it in a wrong spot when you really can’t miss it in a wrong spot,” said McIlroy.
“It’s why this year I’m purposely not going up early. I’m going up Monday afternoon and treating it like a regular tournament.”
The greatest of golfers seem to win when their rivals also are playing their best and if McIlroy wins the Masters he won’t need to walk anywhere.
The tidal wave of euphoria will carry him triumphantly out the Augusta National front gates.
