McIlroy Waited 17-Years For That Maiden Masters Victory Bus. There’s Still Every Chance Of A Second 12 Months On.

2 months ago by Comments Off on McIlroy Waited 17-Years For That Maiden Masters Victory Bus. There’s Still Every Chance Of A Second 12 Months On.

There’s the ole story of the No. 272 bus … you wait ages for the bus to arrive and then when it does, two arrive at the same time.

Rory McIlroy waited all of 17-years for a maiden Masters title and despite an indifferent Augusta third round 73, who’s to say the Northern Irishman still can’t be aboard for an historic repeat victory journey a year on.

McIlroy teed off in the third round carrying an six-shot lead after blistering rounds of 67 and 65. He looked untouchable. Though the golfing gods were about to present a different script.

The pressure started building early. McIlroy could feel it with every glance at the leaderboard — players were rising fast, making a real threat on him. Sam Burns was charging hard, Shane Lowry looking to join his good friend as an Augusta champ and securing an historic second Masters ace while also knocking loudly was Jason Day and Justin Rose, each like Lowry seeeking a second major and all four quietly creeping closer.

Though the biggest pressure of all coming from behind: Scottie Scheffler. The two-time Masters champion was very much on the move, shading the field from well back and hunting what would be his third Masters green jacket, each two years apart – ’22, ’24 and ’26.

“I knew Scottie was back there,” Rory said afterward with a wry smile. “You feel that name climbing and it’s like the whole place is watching. He’s won this thing twice — you don’t ignore that.”

Then it happened in a flash: Rory’s six-shot leading cushion burned away after only a dozen holes.  A super-costly 11th hole double followed by a bogey at the next.  The putts that had been falling for two days suddenly were lipping out. The lead that once felt like a fortress started crumbling shot by shot while Scheffler kept gaining ground and the rest of the pack rose like a tide. The galleries hushed in places they’d been roaring. You could feel the tension ripple across Augusta National.

Did McIlroy fold?  No, he didn’t.  He’s been here before — 17 prior Masters appearances, every one carrying the weight of history. McIlroy likes to play aggressively to win, and on golf’s traditional ‘Moving Day’ he leaned into it hardest on the par 5s. Though the back nine was become a war.

After the events at 11 and 12, he regained a share of the lead at 14 and 15 but a bogey at the penultimate hole put him back into a tie with Young.

And on 18, with Young in the clubhouse at 11-under and Scheffler still stalking from behind, Rory stood over a 12-footer that could have let the lead slip away for good but to his and caddie Harry Diamond’s enormous delight, he drained it.

The fist pump wasn’t massive. It was quiet, almost defiant. The kind that says: “Not today. Not yet.”

McIlroy now heads to the final round not only hoping that second Masters victory bus is not late but he’ll have earned a seat alongside Jack Nicklaus (1956, 1965), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002) as players who successfully defended their title at Augusta. It would also push his career earnings at the Masters past $13 million — the most of any player in tournament history.

Young is chasing his first major and trying to become only the third player ever to win both The Players and the Masters in the same year.

Sunday at Augusta has never felt more electric.

McIlroy summed it up perfectly walking off the 18th: “I gave away six shots in a few holes, but I fought back the only way I know how — aggressive on those par 5s. We’re tied. Tomorrow’s going to be one hell of a day.”

That second Augusta victory bus in succession is reportedly not late. And Rory McIlroy is there on the first tee with his arm fully stretched to allow him on board.



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