I WON’T BE DISTRACTED
MCCILROY SAYS HE WILL PLAY THE COURSE NOT HIS RIVAL, REIGNING CHAMP SPIETH
Rory McIlroy admits he must ignore his playing partner and the significance of what he is trying to achieve ahead of an eagerly-anticipated third round of the Masters.
McIlroy and Jordan Spieth will be in the final group at Augusta National today after McIlroy defied swirling winds to card a 71 and finish just a shot behind the defending champion, who struggled to a 74.
Victory tomorrow would make McIlroy just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam, while Spieth is looking to become only the fourth player to make a successful title defence in the year’s first major.
“It doesn’t make a difference to me who it is up there,” said McIlroy, who has outscored Spieth eight times on the 12 occasions they have played together.
“I want to win this tournament and I want to finish on the lowest score possible, and whoever that is ahead of me at that point, I just want to finish one better than that.
“I’m really trying to block that (the grand slam) out. It’s another tournament I’m trying to win.
“I’m trying to beat guys on this leaderboard that I’ve beaten before, so I need to take confidence from that and know that I’ve been in this position before. Maybe not on this golf course, but I’ve been in this position before in big tournaments and been able to get the job done.”
McIlroy had stressed the need for a good start earlier this week and was delighted to be in such a good position after a round he rated as one of his best at Augusta.
“It’s up there,” added the 26-year-old, who was eight behind Spieth after following two early birdies with a double bogey on the fourth and dropped shots on the fifth and 11th.
“I kept my composure and I played the shots when I needed to. It’s only the second day, there’s still two days to go, but it’s a great round and it’s nice to be up there near the lead going into the weekend here instead of on the cut line and having to battle back where I found myself the last couple years. I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Despite his rollercoaster round, Spieth still became the first player in Masters history to hold the outright lead for six rounds in succession.
“It was a mental test in really tough conditions,” said Spieth who joked he would rather play with someone “less threatening” than McIlroy.
“I don’t think either one of us will focus on each other, we’ll focus on the course. Sure it’s exciting to play with Rory, but we’ll not think much more of it.”
New Zealand’s Danny Lee and USA’s Scott Piercy were one stroke behind McIlroy on two under par.
Sergio Garcia, England’s Danny Willett and Ireland’s Shanre Lowry were all in a share for eighth place, Garcia following a first-round 69 with a 75, while Lowry was disappointed with a 76 after a 68 on day one/