Rory McIlroy has respectfully declined six-time Masters winning Jack Nicklaus’ advice in assisting him plot the shortest route next month around Augusta National.
McIlroy has, after an indifferent start to his New Year PGA Tour campaign, just six weeks to get his game in tip-top shape ahead of the season’s first Major starting on 7th April.
Despite an age difference of nearly 50 years, Nicklaus and McIlroy have become good friends since the duo had lunch together some years back at the exclusive Bears Club, and where McIlroy now works on his game.
Nicklaus was asked last Sunday, and during the final round of the Honda Classic, whether he expected McIlroy to eventually succeed in winning a Masters, and if so join Nicklaus as a ‘Grand Slam’ winner.
Rory McIlroy respectfully declines Jack Nicklaus advice in relation to playing Augusta National
But then the ‘Golden Bear’ revealed McIlroy has yet to snuggle up to Nicklaus for Augusta advice, and now on the eve of this week’s $US 10m WGC – Cadillac Championship McIlroy reckons he has all the information at hand to conquer the Georgia golfing gem.
“Yeah, I’ve talked to Jack a lot about just golf in general, winning golf tournaments, what he did when he was in contention, so feel like I picked a bit up from that,” said McIlroy.
“But this year is going to be my eighth time going to Augusta, and I feel like I’ve improved each and every year.
“So I don’t feel like anyone needs to tell me how to play the golf course. I feel like I’ve been there enough to know that.
“I know what I need to do to win at Augusta. I know what the game plan is.
“And with no disrespect to Jack and his six green jackets, I feel like I know myself what I need to do, and it’s just executing that game plan that week and hitting the right shots at the right time.
“But then if he was to offer it to me, obviously I would listen, but I would never go and seek it out.”
McIlroy tees up at Trump Doral looking to put the disappointment of missing the cut in last week’s Honda Classic behind him.
He posted a 68 to finish five shots adrift of Justin Rose in Monday’s Seminole Pro-Am before taking the 75-minute drive south to suburban Miami.
