The Masters: Rory McIlroy set for final Grand Slam bid for Green Jacket at Augusta National | Golf News

Rory McIlroy completed second to Scottie Scheffler at Augusta Nationwide and is on the lookout for his first large hit since 2014; Watch The Masters completely stay this week on Sky Sports activities Golf – opening spherical protection begins Thursday from 2pm

Rory McIlroy believes he has eradicated a number of the “scar tissue” spent on the Masters and has “all of the components” to complete his Grand Slam profession at Augusta Nationwide.

The world No. 2 arrives as one of many pre-tournament favorites to finish his main drought and grow to be the sixth participant to win a Grand Slam, having completed within the prime 10 in half of his 14 appearances earlier ones.

McIlroy squandered a four-stroke lead on the ultimate day of 2011 and has had a number of close to misses since, though he’s now aiming to higher his runner-up end to Scottie Scheffler in final 12 months’s contest.

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Rory McIlroy says he looks like he is ‘misplaced scar tissue’ along with his robust end ultimately 12 months’s Masters as he prepares for this 12 months’s match

“I felt final 12 months that possibly I misplaced a few of that scar tissue and I felt like I had some breakthroughs,” McIlroy mentioned in his pre-tournament press convention. . “I really feel as relaxed as ever coming right here, simply because I really feel like my recreation is fairly good.

“I do know the place in addition to anybody. I at all times felt like I had the bodily means to win this match, however it’s important to be in the suitable way of thinking to let these bodily skills shine via.

“It was a hesitant begin, I did not put my foot on the accelerator quickly sufficient. It was – I had some unhealthy 9 holes that type of kicked me out of the match at occasions.

“I’ve all of the components to make the pie. Simply put all these components in and set the oven to the suitable temperature and let all of it come collectively. However I do know I’ve all the things there. That is only a matter of placing all of it collectively.”

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Watch each shot of Rory McIlroy’s record-breaking 64 within the ultimate spherical of the 2022 Masters

The best course for McIlroy?

McIlroy completed no worse than eighth in all 4 majors final 12 months and has received the PGA Tour 3 times, together with FedExCup success on the Tour Championship, with the Northern Irishman additionally topping the DP standings World Tour earlier than beginning 2023 with the victory of the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional.

Gear adjustments have seen McIlroy revert to an older putter and shorten his driver’s shaft in preparation for The Masters, with the four-time Main champion spectacular on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play final month to provide him confidence forward of the Main debut of the 12 months.

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Rory McIlroy says he hopes he can forestall the Masters alternative from getting the higher of him this 12 months, admitting it has affected his efficiency in earlier years

“There have been gamers earlier than that this course was mentioned to be tailored for them and so they did not win a inexperienced jacket,” McIlroy added. “It is at all times in my head too.

“Simply because a spot is deemed completely arrange on your recreation doesn’t suggest you are ever going to win it. There’s extra to it. There are additionally gamers that you simply’d assume that golf course would not do nicely. arrange for them, and so they received a inexperienced jacket.

“It is a issue and it is good to know that I come again right here yearly and if I play like I do know I can I ought to have probability. I needn’t do something in a different way this week. “

How will LIV’s presence have an effect on The Masters?

Six former Masters champions are a part of the 18 LIV contingent on the courtroom this week, with McIlroy explaining why the match itself is much extra necessary than any potential disagreements between gamers on rival circuits.

“I see some [LIV] residence man,” McIlroy defined. “I see Brooks [Koepka] lots, I see DJ [Dustin Johnson] lots, we form of apply in the identical place. I believe the extra one-on-one time you spend with sure folks, the extra comfy you grow to be in a sure method.

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Rory McIlroy has performed down the continued feud between golf’s competing excursions and thinks it is nice that the perfect gamers on this planet are all participating within the Masters

“It is a very nuanced state of affairs and there are totally different dynamics. , it is good to get together with Brooks and DJ and possibly not get together with different guys who went to LIV, okay It is interpersonal relationships, that is the way it goes.

However this week and this match is far more necessary than all that, I believe, and it is simply nice that every one the perfect gamers on this planet are collectively once more for the primary time in what looks like a very long time.”

Watch The Masters all week lengthy stay on Sky Sports activities! Dwell protection of the opening spherical begins Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities Golf.