Two compatriots from Ireland found themselves seated together, one decked out in a green jacket, a garment highly desired by the other. John Carr, the press conference’s facilitator, is a veteran member of Augusta National. In contrast, securing a similar jacket to round-off his collection is hinging upon Rory McIlroy’s ability to secure the final piece of the career Grand Slam prize – another Major title.
The Grand Slam quest was not the main talking point. Only eight questions were permitted in a brief, 10-minute, pre-tournament press briefing, granted by McIlroy’s request. This further exemplifies his evolving strategy to master the revered golf domain.
In preparation for the Masters, McIlroy has been on the course more often this spring. His late arrival, just half an hour before he sat down with the press, implies that his two-day scouting trip last week prior to participating in the Valero Texas Open (where he achieved his PGA Tour season best third-place finish) must have put him at ease, hence the limited interruption.
With his sights set on the iconic green jacket, McIlroy is keen on keeping his routine standard. Hence the late arrival and subsequent short media address.
“This is the 16th time I’m starting the Masters. I’ve had a go at it in several different ways. I guess I’m endeavouring to incorporate some regularity into my weekly routine. I compete 25 weeks out of the year and there’s no sense in altering anything this week from any other, I suppose,” said McIlroy.
McIlroy has expressed his desire to regularly participate in golf to sharpen his game, or at the very least, keep it in good form. Last week in Texas, he saw some improvements, making him feel more prepared. He’s played some initial practice rounds and feels his preparatory work has been nearly completed. The key for him now is to maintain a relaxed mindset and execute successfully on the golf ground.
However, McIlroy’s approach hasn’t been quite orthodox. He’s been playing more frequently, with the Texas Open scoring him his first top-10 on the PGA Tour. He began the year with a sprint, securing a second-place finish and victory in consecutive weeks at the DP World Tour in Dubai. Additionally, he sought guidance from Butch Harmon for a fresh perspective on his swing.
Harmon is not just a swing coach but also almost a psychologist for McIlroy. They jest that after spending four hours together, he leaves with two swing advice and a bagful of anecdotes, but always with improved ball-hitting skills.
McIlroy acknowledged that the visit was incredibly fruitful from a technical perspective, evident in his improved approach numbers in the last week, something he was keenly looking forward to.