McILROY’S MASTERED AUGUSTA

RORY McILROY has claimed he has “figured out” the Augusta greens before his latest bid to complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters.

The Ulsterman led for three rounds in 2011 before shooting a final-round 80 after a disastrous back nine. The world No.10 has finished in the top 10 in the first Major of the year in the last four years.

And McIlroy (left), who has not won for 17 months, claimed: “Speed and lag putting are big keys and I feel like I’ve started to get a lot better at that, especially there because there is a lot of break and a lot of different slopes. But I think I have it figured out.” McIlroy is one of only five players in the world’s top 50 not playing the WGC-Mexico Championship, starting today. Tommy Fleetwood (above) made his PGA Tour breakthrough at the Club de Golf Chapultepec last year when he finished runner-up to Dustin Johnson.

And after his fourth place at the Honda Classic on Sunday, the world No.11 has become a firm fan favourite in the USA.

“I absolutely loved it,” he said. “It was brilliant.’’