Mcilroy adamant he can win Masters one day despite struggles
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Rory Mcilroy pledged to keep trying to win the Masters and complete the career grand slam after failing to play his way into contention at Augusta National.
Mcilroy had not given up hope of challenging for a green jacket despite a birdie-free 77 in extremely testing conditions on Friday leaving him 10 shots off the lead.
The world No 2 noted that he won the Dubai Desert Classic in January from the same position – albeit while acknowledging the different stature of the events
– but could only return a third round of 71 yesterday to remain well off the pace on three over par.
“All I can do is come here and try my best,” Mcilroy said after a round containing three birdies and two bogeys. That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others. I’ve just got to keep showing up and try to do the right thing.
“I made good progress last week in San Antonio, I would say my strokes gained approach numbers today were probably pretty good. So it’s getting better. It’s definitely better than what it was through the Florida swing.”
Asked how much his patience had been tested this week, he said: “A lot. But it’s this tournament and this golf course and especially these conditions.
“That’s all you can be (patient). You can’t really do anything else. You’vegottotrytohaveasmuch acceptance as possible and try to hit good shots and move on.
“Obviously conditions were a little easier than yesterday. Still tricky, though. Greens are firm.
“Some of the hole locations are really tough, especially some of the downwind holes with the pins at the front. It’s hard to get the ball close and then you sort of just have to take your chances from 20, 25 feet.
“But I definitely hit the ball better today, gave myself a lot of looks. Missed a few, but shooting something under par was a decent effort. I made three birdies compared to zero yesterday, so nice to see some red numbers.”
Defending champion Jon Rahm remained a frustrated also-ran on day three.
Rahm had insisted his competitive edge had not been dulled by his move to LIV Golf ahead of his attempt to become just the fourth player to win backto-back Masters titles.
The Spaniard’s shock move to the Saudi-backed breakaway came after he had previously pledged his loyalty to the PGA Tour and criticised LIV’S 54-hole format, with no cut and a shotgun start as “not a golf tournament”.
The two-time major winner has failed to win any of the five LIV events he has played to date, but travelled to Augusta on the back of finishing fourth in Miami on Sunday and winning the team event at Doral.
However, the Ryder Cup star was never a factor in the year’s first major and added a third round of 72 to remain five over par after previous scores of 73 and 76.
That 76 had been compiled in fiendishly difficult conditions on Friday, with winds gusting up to 40mph sending scores soaring and leaving Rahm querying whether play should have been suspended.
“I was questioning myself why we were out there, especially when I got to 18 and saw the whole front of the green just full of sand,” Rahm said after his round.
“I can imagine they were very close to calling it a few times, especially when we were on 11 green and we were getting those massive gusts every couple of minutes or so. It was extremely difficult.”
Out on the course, world No 1 Scottie Scheffler was leading on seven-under through nine holes – a shot ahead of fellow Americans Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Bryson Dechambeau and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.