What else does Rory McIlroy now have in common with fellow Masters champions Ben Hogan and Raymond Floyd?
McIlroy, accompanied by his father Gerry, travelled to Augusta National last Saturday teeing-up in the company of Augusta Chairman Fred Ridley.
It was a first occasion in some 11 months Rors has revisted Augusta National since his stunning Grand Slam success.
“It was great. Yeah, it was fun. It was a lot of fun“, he said.
He was quizzed by GolfByTourMiss if there was a spot on the course where he would place a plaque, and if Augusta did allow such a move which they don’t, though rather than talk of a plaque, he spoke of his joy in again playing the 15th, a hole that proved pivotal in last year’s victory.
THREE @TheMasters CHAMPIONS ….
Rory Mcllroy @McIlroyRory along with legendary Ben Hogan & Raymond Floyd. What does the trio now also have forever in common ?
Find out: https://t.co/MUXqVCm7Q7
@TOURMISS / Getty
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/NQZo678aVV
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) March 7, 2026
“I hit the green on 15 again, just as like just to replicate it. I nearly pitched it in the hole. It was actually a better shot than I hit in the tournament,“ he said,
“It was actually unbelievable, I wish I could have got it on camera. I hit 7-iron. I’m a little stronger this year. I’ve put in a bit of work in the gym. Like literally, you know, the pitch mark was that (indicating) from the hole, and just sort of went to the back edge of the green“.
Of real note, is that for the rest of his life as a member of Augusta National he will share the locker of Ben Hogan and Ramond Floyd who between won three Masters – Hogan in 1951 and 1953 and Floyd in 1976.sta.
Thoughts of the Masters will be put on the back shelf for now as he has the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to come and his title defence at the Players Championship.
McIlroy is four-under at Bay Hill after a 68 which is seven shots behind leader Daniel Berger. The five-time major winner and former champion posted five birdies with his lone bogey coming at the 8th after he found the water.
After letting some shots go late in his round on Thursday as big numbers plagued him again, he was pleased with the patience he showed on day two.
“Yeah, very pleased. One bogey. Hit it in the water on 8. But made a good putt for bogey there. I really felt like that kept any momentum that I had for the round going. I played the last 10 holes really, really well. Overall real really pleased. Played a very sort of controlled, patient round of golf, which you need to do around here. Yeah, good day’s work.
“I played yesterday okay as well. I made a couple of big numbers. I felt like the wind got very strong on us for a portion of the back nine yesterday. Definitely got a lot tougher. I wasn’t too displeased with how I played yesterday, obviously I just didn’t hold it together and score the way I wanted to coming down the last few holes. But I felt like my game’s in pretty good shape the last couple days.”
And it as GolfByTourMiss quizzed Rory how knowing he’s been spending the week not only with long-time coach Michael Bannon but also dedicated putting coach, Brad Faxon.
“Yeah, I’m putting nicely, yeah. Again, when you’re hitting it to 25, 30 feet all the time it’s hard to hole a lot of putts. But I feel good,“ he responded to this journalist.
