RORY’S 2019
RORY McILROY claimed he has a “great chance” of completing his career Grand Slam at the Masters next month as he launched a staunch defence of his methods – and his caddie.
Before the start of the Players Championship, the Ulsterman had not won for a year and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley claimed he had lost his confidence on a Sunday.
The new world No.4 responded by beating the best field of the year at Sawgrass to be installed as the new favourite for Augusta. Tiger Woods in 2001 is the only player to win both the Players and the Masters in the same year.
McIlroy, who had finished in the top six in his first five events this season, said: “I won’t do anything different in the build-up to the Masters – I’ll just keep doing the same thing.
“I feel like I’ve managed the six tournaments of the year very well, even with some noise around me, like ‘he can’t play on Sundays, blah blah blah.’
“And if I go to Augusta with a similar golf game to what I have now, and the attitude I’ve shown over the last few weeks, I’ll have a great chance.”
McIlroy, who turns 30 in May, said his “journey” to a new maturity and perspective had helped him find consistency after he shunned the European Tour. “One thing I used to do in the past was let what I shot that day influence who I was or my mood,” he said. “Who I am as a person isn’t who I am as a golfer, and it took me a while to get to that point where I realised who those two people were.”
Former amateur star Harry Diamond (with Rory, left) took over on his bag after the 2017 Open and, even though McIlroy took flak for appointing a mate as caddie, they now have two wins together on the PGA Tour. “Harry has been a massive part of this and is making me more comfortable on course,” he said. “People think he’s my best friend and I got him on the bag only because I Jan 6 Sentry Tournament of Champions T4 (277) -15
Jan 27 Farmers Insurance Open (274)
Feb 17 Genesis Open
Feb 24 WGC-Mexico Championship (268) Arnold Palmer Invitational T6 (280) -8
Mar 17 The Players Championship (272) (273) didn’t want to listen to anyone else. That’s not true. Harry is an accomplished golfer and has turned into one of the best caddies out here, if not the best.”
McIlroy said after his Players triumph that this win marked the start of the “second phase” of his career. “I came here as a 19-year-old in 2009, missing the cut and getting kicked out of bars in Jax Beach for being underage, so I’ve come a long way in those 10 years,” said the four-time Major winner.
But before Augusta – and the WGC-Match Play next week – McIlroy has other plans. “I’ve got an interior-design meeting tomorrow to pick out stuff for our new house,” he said.