McIlroy To Be Applauded The Manner He Engaged, Encouraged & Even Entertained His Much Younger Playing Partner.

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He’s the reigning Masters champion and eyes of the sports world were clearly on Rory McIlroy teeing-up as the reigning Augusta National champion.

Accompanying McIlroy was in-form Cameron Young and 18-year-old Georgia golfer Mason Howell, the reigning US Amateur champion.

Last July, Howell became the third youngest player to capture the US Amateur with victory affording the local Georgia born golfer entry into this year’s Masters, the US Open and also the Open Championship.

It is a Masters custom to group the reigning US Open champ alongside the defending Masters champion for the opening round, and the in-form Cameron Young making up the three-ball.

There was also the Masters annual practice of introducing players to the first tee: “Fore, please.  Rory McIlroy now driving“.  McIlroy acknowledged the welcome as the reigning Masters champion and struck a commanding opening drive, splitting the first.

Young followed while Howell stepped up to the mark but horribly dragged his first tee shot way to the left onto the adjointing ninth fairway, clearly showing his early jitters there for all to see.  Though it did not help Howell that his cap came off in taking his opening tee shot.

“Yeah, I had it come off like three times today,” said Howell smiling.

“It’s something that, I don’t know, hasn’t happened in a while. I mean, I was going to swing out of my shoes to see if I could cover that right bunker. It was pretty funny.”

As they walked off the opening tee, McIlroy could have simply headed off down the first and while he did, he waited for Howell to join he and Young, and with McIlroy clearly going out of his way to help calm the nerves of the towering six foot, four-inch tall Howell who, no doubt could not have been more embarrassed after his maiden Masters opening tee shot.

McIlroy ensured the young American didn’t dwell on his troubles and to his enormous credit, the Grand Slam champion was spotted having a word with Howell following his rocky start, seemingly doing his best to settle his nerves.

Howell produced a great par save at the first but came unstuck after double-bogey at the fourth hole and then dropping further down the board after bogeys at six and seven.

The teenager did birdie eight but bogeyed 10 and doubled 12, dropping to seven-over but gleaned enormous delight not only from McIlroy and Young but the huge crowd following the group when Howell birdied the 15th and 16th holes on route to his five-over 77.

McIlroy produced a most impressive five-under 67 to be sharing the clubhouse lead with Sam Burns.

McIlroy and Howell share a certain history. It seems McIlroy had handed the then 10-year-old Howell a golf ball at the 2016 Tour Championship, the event at East Lake GC that McIlroy won that year for a first of three occasions, and a moment that has since served as a lasting source of inspiration for Howell.

While keeping his own game firmly in mind as he bids to make the cut at Augusta National, Howell admitted he relished the chance to tee it up alongside McIlroy.

“Rory is awesome. We had a great walk today. Yeah, that kept things light on the first tee. Also kept things light that I hit it onto the nine fairway off the first tee,” said Howell smiling.

“I was pretty nervous on the first tee and couldn’t feel my arms. It was pretty funny.  Being able to walk off that tee — and I didn’t hit a good shot, but walking off that tee laughing with Rory, that was pretty funny.

“We chatted a little bit all day. You know, it was great to pick his brain a little bit. You know, just kind of asked him what does he have coming up and then how does he hit the ball so far, things like that

“Rory was one of my idols growing up, so it’ll be a super special moment for me.

“So I mean, I got to witness it firsthand playing with Rory, how he was able to get in at 5-under. You know, just made a lot of putts and never really got himself in any trouble.

“I guess that’s what it takes to be the first-round leader.”

Wonderfully said Mason and well played, Rors. 



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