Rory and 1D Niall team up in golf’s boy band
GIVEN the inexorable march of the past 12 months in one direction, perhaps it is only appropriate that Rory McIlroy should spend the eve of the Masters today with a member of the celebrated boy band of that name.
But it is not lookalike Harry Styles who will carry the Northern Irishman’s bag in the par-three tournament but keen golfer Niall Horan as McIlroy looks for a little light relief before his first attempt to complete a career Grand Slam.
One Direction released their debut album in 2011, the same year McIlroy won his first major, so you could say they have mirrored each other, hit for greatest hit.
At last year’s Masters, McIlroy piqued the interest of one or two photographers when then fiancee Caroline Wozniacki donned the caddie’s famous white boiler suit.
He might find the curiosity levels are even greater this time, for One Direction are even more popular in the US than in Britain. Between them, Niall, an honorary member at Mullingar, Westmeath, and Rory might do more to stir up interest in golf among the young than any number of ‘old fogey’ initiatives.
‘We met in Australia at the end of last year and he was saying he had never been to The Masters,’ said McIlroy. ‘I said if you’re available on the Wednesday you’re more than welcome to carry the bag. Niall’s really excited.’
McIlroy looked more subdued than excited at his press conference yesterday, possibly because he knew what was coming. On the one hand, he feels as ready as he ever will for his tilt at history. On the other, he had to spend 30 minutes with journalists wanting to trawl over his poor record at Augusta.
Here is a sample: Why is your record so bad on the par fives, Rory? Why have you never birdied either the first or the 10th holes? Why have you left here for the past five years with at least one 77 on your score card? What the hell’s wrong given all the advantages offered by your length off the tee?
To be fair, he answered them all with politeness. After all, there was nothing there he had not analysed and dissected countless times himself.
McIlroy knows better than anyone he has no chance unless he does better on the long holes. He brought up the point raised in the
Sportsmail graphic from last Saturday, which compared his record on the par fives last year with that of winner Bubba Watson.
‘Just look at the two par fives on the back nine on Sunday,’ he said. ‘I had a nine iron in my hand for my second shot on both and I walked off with two sixes. Two fours I’d have finished third.
‘It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. Look at Bubba, who played them in eight-under for the week to my level par and beat me by eight shots.
‘I’ve just been too aggressive at times. I had four sixes on par-fives last year, so if I can clean up those, I’ll have a chance to win.’
As for those 77s, he said: ‘It’s not like I’m having a bad 18 holes. It’s always just a bad nine holes that causes the damage and it’s usually on a Friday, like last year. But I am better equipped now to handle it if things don’t go right way. Mentally, I’m in a far better place.’
McIlroy conceded that the circus surrounding Tiger Woods’s return had not been unhelpful and the draw has worked out pretty well, too. The place you do not want to be come tomorrow is in one of the last two groups, like Woods, but McIlroy has been treated kindly, with a mid-morning threesome alongside Americans Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore.
‘I don’t think I’ve played alongside Phil at Augusta so that’s perfect,’ he said. ‘We always get along well and he has a great record here. It will be fun to watch him.’
It was this time last week, while practising in Florida, that McIlroy pronounced himself ready to go. ‘It’s been great not to have to think of anything technical while I’m playing,’ he said. ‘I’ve been able to enjoy the build-up.’
Asked who he saw as favourite, McIlroy went for Bubba — ironic given a recent ESPN survey among the pros ranked Watson as the least favourite.
‘I take it as I need to improve as a man,’ said Watson, with the sort of annoying comment that explains his unpopularity in the first place.
As for McIlroy, he knows where he needs to improve. ‘You look at this course and it should fit me perfectly from tee to green,’ he said.
After One Direction today, it’ll be his turn to generate some roars.