Rory McIlroy draws ‘tonnes of positives’ from WGC Match Play as Augusta Masters draw closer | Golf News

Rory McIlroy has received six out of seven matches on the WCG-Dell Applied sciences Match Play in promising indicators forward of The Masters; watch Augusta Nationwide’s first main of the 12 months stay on Sky Sports activities from Thursday April 6 as McIlroy seeks to finish his Grand Slam profession

Rory McIlroy will quickly start his annual quest to win the Masters at Augusta Nationwide and develop into the sixth man in historical past to finish a profession Grand Slam.

Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Participant, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen are the gamers who made this slice of historical past, with McIlroy tipped to hitch them since – and possibly even earlier than – successful The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July 2014.

That success added to his US Open triumph in 2011 and PGA Championship win a 12 months later, as he claimed a second PGA crown in August 2014 for his fourth – and most up-to-date – main.

Glory at Augusta Nationwide continued to elude McIlroy, nevertheless. Seven prime 10s, together with 5 in a row between 2014 and 2018, however no trophy because the Grand Slam wait continues.

Please use Chrome browser for extra accessible video participant

Watch The Masters, stay on Sky Sports activities from Thursday 6 April

Ulsterman’s greatest end result was final 12 months, when an excellent remaining spherical 64 – which included a exceptional gap from a greenside bunker on the 18th – propelled him to second place and three strokes behind. winner Scottie Scheffler.

McIlroy’s intention over the Easter weekend will probably be to do higher in Augusta – and that appears fully doable with the spectacular 33-year-old on his solution to ending third on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play with six wins over seven.

“There are a ton of positives to remove. For those who had informed me I used to be going to Match Play Sunday final week, I might have taken that,” McIlroy stated, shortly after beating world No. 1 Scheffler in third place within the play-off.

“Perhaps I will go up [to Augusta National] for a day and messing round. I went there final week however I do not suppose there’s an issue going again up after which it is a matter of coaching.

“I do not suppose there is a ton to do. I feel my recreation is in nice form, so preserve going, work on the photographs I want for Augusta and let’s go.”

Please use Chrome browser for extra accessible video participant

Watch McIlroy’s exceptional 349-yard run to the inexperienced throughout Match Play in Texas

McIlroy had been temperamental together with his driver and funky with the putter whereas lacking the lower at The Gamers two weeks in the past.

He additionally stated he needed to be “a pure golfer” once more after “sacrificing a while” whereas serving as an unofficial spokesperson within the recreation’s battle with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Collection.

He had definitely develop into a golfer once more at Match Play.

What was completely different for McIlroy?

Armed with a brand new putter and driver, McIlroy received his first 5 video games in Austin, beating Scott Stallings, Denny McCarthy and Keegan Bradley within the round-robin group stage earlier than excelling within the first two knockout rounds on Saturday as he noticed off Lucas Herbert. and Xander Schauele.

Please use Chrome browser for extra accessible video participant

McIlroy edged out Xander Schauffele on the ultimate gap of their WGC Match Play quarter-final

The four-time main champion birdied 9 occasions in an unblemished spherical in opposition to Herbert within the final 16, earlier than pulling down Schauffele on the ultimate gap of the quarter-finals, sinking a 15-foot birdie together with his recent putter to win a recreation. he had by no means carried out earlier than.

Girl Laura Davies stated Sky Sports activities Golf: “McIlroy made lots of putts below strain to maintain these video games going. [at the Match Play]. Rory is the one for me on the Masters.”

Please use Chrome browser for extra accessible video participant

McIlroy, talking after lacking out on the lower at The Gamers, stated he was ‘able to be a golfer once more’

McIlroy was additionally reportedly sizzling with the brief stick throughout a follow spherical at Augusta between The Gamers and Match Play, with rumors he took simply 19 putts. These have been rumors that the world quantity 3 selected to not play down.

“Yeah, pay attention, I had two good days,” McIlroy stated. “We performed 54 holes in two days, and it was good. I used to be actually proud of my recreation. It was good to see that after battling The Gamers.”

McIlroy appeared set to advance to the match play remaining on Sunday as he went two-for-three to play in opposition to Cameron Younger, just for his opponent to then degree the match on the 18th after which win it on the primary further gap in changing a putt. about 10 toes and McIlroy missed an analogous distance.

Please use Chrome browser for extra accessible video participant

Highlights of McIlroy’s semi-final exit in WGC Match Play as Cameron Younger reached the ultimate

The expectation for Sunday’s semi-finals was that McIlroy and Scheffler would meet later within the day and so they did – however within the third-place play-off quite than the ultimate, with defending champion Scheffler eradicated within the semi-finals by Sam Burns.

This meant that Scheffler in opposition to McIlroy had rather less likelihood, each by way of significance and financial acquire, however the truth that the Northern Irishman bought a one-on-one victory over Scheffler would nonetheless have been an actual increase with Augusta in thoughts.

It would not be stunning if Scheffler and McIlroy do battle once more on Masters Sunday.

Scheffler is making an attempt to assert the inexperienced jacket for the second straight 12 months and McIlroy for the primary time in his profession. Scheffler is aiming for a second main, McIlroy a fifth and the Grand Slam.

“I feel [Rory] is a greater participant now than he has been up to now 10 years, and I feel he is higher geared up, whether or not it is being a greater putter or being higher psychologically.” former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley just lately stated, “I feel he is a greater golfer than he is ever headed to The Masters.”

Let the hunt proceed…

Watch Augusta Nationwide’s The Masters stay in April on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection of the opening spherical begins from 2pm on Thursday sixth April on Sky Sports activities Golf!