RORY SO FIRED UP FOR GLORY
It can swing his way says McGinley
® from JEREMY CROSS in Augusta
PAUL McGINLEY has backed Rory McIlroy to bounce back at the Masters this week.
The Northern Irishman has been forced to watch big rivals Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth clean up in 2017. World No.1 Johnson has won two World Golf Championships, while fellow American Spieth triumphed at Pebble Beach. The pressure is mounting on McIlroy to respond by winning his first Green Jacket when the season’s opening Major tees off on Thursday. But former Ryder Cup captain McGinley is convinced seeing his opponents’ success will inspire McIlroy. McGinley said: “It’s great news for Rory. He’s always been able to react to other people’s success in a very positive way. It will light his fire. “He enjoys the challenge of going up against them. He’s very confident of beating them. “All those wins are brilliant news for Rory. It couldn’t be any better.”
Intuitive
McIlroy has been restricted to 14 competitive rounds this year following a rib problem that saw him miss the European Tour’s Desert Swing. He has registered just two top-10 finishes and is in danger of being undercooked for Augusta. McGinley added: “He’s missed a chunk of the season, but he’s not a guy who needs a huge amount of hours on the clock and rounds under his belt to feel that he can compete.
“He’s an intuitive player. He’s an inspirational player. I think his game will be there.
“It’s more the other stuff around it. It’s about creating that same mindset he had when he came from behind to take down Dustin Johnson and win the FedEx last year.
“He was 101 per cent mentally engaged to win that tournament. He was inspired. That was the stage for Rory.
“He played with a smile on his face, with a strut, loving the chase of catching DJ, who had a big lead.”
McIlroy is desperate to win a Green Jacket and join an exclusive club of career Grand Slam winners that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
McGinley said: “It’s a very important Masters for Rory, arguably now the most important Major for him because he wants to complete the Grand Slam.
“It’s a chance for history, a chance for a landmark, a chance for someone from the modern era. It would certainly set down a marker if he achieves a Grand Slam while still in his 20s.”