McIlroy: I must "not try to be a hero"
(L-R) Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walk to the No. 12 hole during Practice Round 3 for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Picture: Augusta National
Rory McIlroy believes he has the grit to end his Masters quest but only stopes trying to be “a hero” and eliminates “the big numbers” that have dogged at Augusta National.
The Holywood star believes he’s playing well enough and making enough birdies to clinch that elusive green jacket and complete the career Grand Slam.
But he admitted that his habit of trying to pull off the impossible has cost him dear and he must keep the double and triple bogeys off his card — he’s had 12 double bogeys or worse in 42 rounds— and think better if he’s to finally succeed this week.
“This week it’s take advantage of the holes that you can, play smart on the other ones and if you can do that and think a little bit better and concentrate a little bit more and limit your mistakes — make no worse than a bogey on any hole.
“That’s something haven’t done here that well in the past. I have made a few big numbers and if you can limit those and take your medicine, be smart, punch out of trees, not try to be a hero, that all can add up at the end of week to saving a few shots here and there.”
With a two-tee start in operation due to lack of light in November, McIlroy goes off the first with world No 1 Dustin Johnson and world No 10 Patrick Cantlay at 1700 Irish time tomorrow.
But Shane Lowry will get to live out one of his childhood dreams when he tees it up with defending champion Tiger Woods in the first two rounds.
The Open champion will go off the tough 10th with the five-time Masters champion and 15-time Major winner and 2019 US Amateur champion Andy Ogletree at 1255 Irish time tomorrow.
"I'd like to get a game of golf with Tiger Woods,” Lowry said four years ago when Woods was returning from injury. "It's something that I've always said, I grew up watching him. He was one of my heroes.”
Graeme McDowell partners South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Masters debutant Nate Lashley from the 10th tee at 1317 while Mallow amateur James Sugrue goes off n the last match of the day off the 10th with two-time Masters champion José María Olazábal (54) and Scotsdale’s Andrew Putnam.
