McIroy takes sixth swipe at career grand slam
AUGUSTA, GA. >> Phil Mickelson was either speaking from experience or ignoring a big part of his history.
The topic was Rory McIlroy and his quest for the career Grand Slam, the most exclusive club in golf. McIlroy only needs to win the Masters to make it a clean sweep of the majors.
Mickelson is not part of that club, either, lacking only the U. S. Open but not effort. He holds the record with his six runnerup finishes. And so he was asked this week if he had any advice for McIlroy as he embarked on his sixth attempt to complete the Grand Slam at Augusta National.
“First of all, there’s not much advice I can give him,” Mickelson said. “The guy is as complete a player as there comes.”
L ef t y liked what he saw Tuesday. They played a nine- hole match Tuesday, the San Diego squad of Mickelson and Xander Schauffele losing to McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
“He’s play ing beautifully,” Mickelson said. “I would be shocked if he wasn’t in contention with a great chance on Sunday, whether it’s this year, whether it’s a few months from now, whether it’s a few years. I remember when I was trying to win a major — any major — and I struggled for many years. But I always believed it would happen.”
It did in 2004 at age 33 at the Masters. And then Mickelson won a major each of the next two years, followed by another Masters, and then a mild surprise at Muirfield with one of the greatest closing rounds to win the British Open.
But still no U. S. Open. Greg Norman surely felt he would win the Masters and perhaps a few more when he threw away his first good chance in 1986 with a bogey on the final hole. The Shark never won a green jacket. Neither did Ken Venturi, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf, Ernie Els, David Duval. It’s a long list.
McIlroy can appreciate Mickelson’s belief as it relates to the Masters. But this is about more than the Masters. It’s the final link to the career Grand Slam, achieved only by Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
“Nothing is given in this game,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy is 31. He captured the third leg at British Open when he was 25, his entire career ahead of him. And it still is. There is no reason to believe he can’t be fitted for a green jacket in November or April, or even a few years down the line.
What adds to the burden of completing it at Augusta National are memories — scar tissue, in most cases — from returning to the same course to face the same demons.
McIlroy had a four- shot lead going into the final round in 2011 and coughed it up with an 80. That was before he had won a major. His next real chance was two years ago, when a birdie on the final hole of the third round left him three shots behind but in the final group with Patrick Reed.
All eyes were on McIlroy. All cheers were for McIlroy. He shot 74 and finished six back.
“I’ve always felt like I had the game to do well around here,” McI lroy said. “It’s just a matter of getting out of my own way and letting it happen. But as I said, you have to go out and earn it. You can’t just rely on people saying that you’re going to win one. Greg Norman never did. Ernie Els never did. There are a lot of great people that have played this game that have never won a green jacket.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion, and I know that.”
Even so, there was a quiet confidence about McIlroy, fitting for what will be a quiet course. He fixed a few flaws, which has given him more freedom and trust in his full swing. He likes not being a hot topic of conversation at the Masters.
One reason his bid for the Grand Slam is getting so little attention is because there’s so much more to talk about — the Masters in November, devoid of spectators and roars. And his recent form doesn’t help.
Before the COV ID - 19 pandemic shut down golf for three months, McIlroy had a chance to win every week — seven straight tournaments finishing no worse than fifth. Since the return, he has not contended in any of the 12 events he has played.
He has suffered from the lack of energy from not having spectators, though it’s been the same for other stars. It’s time to move on, and McIlroy realizes the adjustment period should be over by now.
Especially now. THUNDERSTORMS EX
PECTED FOR OPENING ROUND >> Thunderstorms halted the final practice rounds at the Masters on Wednesday and the conditions could be a preview for the first round of the delayed major tournament today.
According to weather. com, there is 100 percent chance of rain today, with thunderstorms also in the forecast. Morning thunderstorms for the opening round are supposed to give way to scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.
The forecast does get better as the weekend progresses with a 10 percent chance of rain on Friday, followed by 20 percent on Saturday and Sunday.
NO GUARANTEE FOR FANS IN 2021 >> Fans with Masters tickets may be disappointed that this year’s t ou r n ament is b ei n g played without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but spare a thought for how local businesses are coping. A city that normally buzzes during Masters week as thousands of visitors open their wallets and spend freely in hotels, restaurants and well beyond the hospitality industry, is this year going about its business much as it does in any other week.
As if the financial hit of a one- off Masters without fans is not bad enough for business, there is no guarantee spectators will be back next April. Masters chairman Fred Ridley on Wednesday left open the possibility of fans returning, but made no promises.
“I’m hopeful that we will see improved conditions regarding this virus, but April is less than five months away, so there’s certainly no assurance of that,” he said.