Rory McIlroy revealed he paid a first visit to Augusta National since winning The Masters.
After a disappointing showing at the Australian Open, McIlroy crossed the Pacific and rather than head straight to the family residence in Florida, he made a beeline to Augusta, Georgia.
It was McIlroy’s first drive back down Magnolia Drive in some eight months since the emotion in being fitted with an Augusta National members green jacket.
WHAT DID RORS FIND ON A FIRST RETURN VISIT #augustanational ⛳️…
And staring @McIlroyRory when he opened his now ‘Champions Room’ locker for the first time
Read: https://t.co/PYeUNWNzIP
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/Gdy7D7T5BA
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) December 18, 2025
“I flew straight from Australia to Augusta, and that was first time back on property since that Sunday”, said McIlroy speaking on Shotgun Start podcast
“So it was cool as I hadn’t seen inside the Champions Locker room. I had a lovely note there in my locker from Jack (Nicklaus).
“It was just amazing.
“There is definitely a different feel when you go back on property as the champion.”
McIlroy spoke also whether finally winning a Masters green jacket will make it any easier for him when he returns to the hallowed Augusta grounds next April.
“I have carried out a lot of interviews and I’ve talked to a lot of people and there’s not thing about that day I would want back,” said McIlroy.
“I’m happy it’s over and I never want to feel that way …. I hope I feel that way out on a golf course again as means I am playing for something very important but I don’t know whether I feel that way again on a golf course”.
On that theme, McIlroy was asked if that feeling he described will present him with a ‘freedom’ when he returns next April as the defending Masters champion.
“It’s wishing thinking but I think it will make it easier, and whether it gives me pure freedom? No, I don’t think so”, he said.
“I just don’t think that is the way we are wired”.
