Rory’s got a big chance but it’ll take it all out of him to get over line
THERE’S good news and bad news for Rory Mcilroy this week.
The good news? He’s again the headline act at Augusta.
The bad news? The weight of history is on his back once more.
Expectation will undoubtedly follow the World No7 all week and understandably so since he has the chance to join a very exclusive club.
Only five other players in the history of the game – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen – have won a grand slam of Majors.
And Mcilroy, who is 11/1 with some bookmakers, has a chance to join that esteemed list this weekend.
It would be a remarkable achievement given the fact multiple Major champions like Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Sam Sneed and Lee Trevino all failed to complete the set.
Faldo won six Majors – yes, six – but never the grand slam.
That sums up the huge task facing Rory this week.
He has had three previous attempts at completing the slam but carded fourth, 10th and seventh place finishes.
He has never really been in contention on Sunday afternoon when that accolade was at stake.
Both Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth also have the chance to complete the slam at the US Open and USPGA later this year.
But Rory will be determined to beat them to the punch a t
Augusta.
He has a huge opportunity in
Georgia but he’ll also know it’ll take everything out of him to get across the line. Can he deal with the hype and cope when the stakes are so high?
Equally, will he be able to process the potential pain if things don’t go his way?
When Tiger completed the slam at The Open in 2000, he boasted of being tranquil, calm and at ease with himself. Gary Player had a different view, declaring: “You need to do everything to get that last one.”
I hope Rory adopts the Tiger mentality. He isn’t a street fighter like Player but boasts a skill set the envy of every other elite player in the modern game.
He has enjoyed an amazing career to date and could only have dreamed of being in this position when he first turned pro.
But whilst the opportunity is there to join Woods, Nicklaus, Player, Hogan and Sarazen on golf ’s greatest pedestal, he has to grab it with both hands.
Form can be fleeting at times for Rory – simply because he is an artist – but his confidence should be high after his win at the Arnold Palmer.
Can he draw a masterpiece among the azaleas of Augusta?
Others are capable of spoiling the view.
But if he gets comfortable being Rory over the next four days, he might have a Green Jacket hanging in his wardrobe come Monday morning.