Rory McIlroy requires self-belief if he is finally “to get that monkey off his back and win the Masters”. However, the problem is that the commodity seems in short supply for the Northern Irishman.
That is the opinion of Butch Harmon, the celebrated coach, and it is a view only enhanced by McIlroy’s woeful performance in his Augusta warm-up. A first missed cut in nine months was not the sort of Masters preparation McIlroy was expecting when he ripped up his normal schedule by appearing at the Texas Open.
McIlroy hit only eight out of 28 fairways in his two rounds at TPC San Antonio and on one over par fell two shots short of making the weekend. His error-strewn display was in stark contrast to his optimistic mood when discussing what he viewed as the difference between his form going into this Masters compared with 12 months ago, when he missed the cut for the first time in 11 years. “It’s chalk and cheese,” he said. “I’m way more comfortable with my game, I’m happy with where everything is. Everything seems like it’s a lot more settled.”
Harmon sees it differently, wondering where the famous Rory swagger has gone. “It’s a confidence thing,” Harmon said. “Winning breeds confidence, and if you’re not winning, it’s pretty hard to be confident in what you’re doing. So, I would love to see him win and just get the monkey off his back, and then I think he’ll take off and start winning a lot of majors again, but this one is a lot of pressure for him.”
There was nothing to suggest this sudden sink to mediocrity. He has yet to win in 2022, but has put in some decent performances, including third in Dubai and another top 10 in Los Angeles. He skipped last week’s WGC Match Play in an attempt to freshen things up before he headed to Georgia for what will be his eighth attempt to complete the career grand slam. That has not been the world No 9’s only change to his build-up.
“I was at Augusta for a couple of days [on Monday and Tuesday] but just went there on my own,” he said. “I didn’t go with any members, or family or friends and do the whole staying-on-property-thing like I normally do. I just wanted to go and see the golf course and sort of do a little bit of a scouting trip that I haven’t really done the last couple years. I don’t feel like there’s a rush to get there next week and cram and prepare. I feel like I’ve already done most of my work.”
In McIlroy’s absence from San Antonio, Aaron Rai has the chance to make history as the first British-Asian to qualify for the male season’s opening major. The 27-year-old from Wolverhampton shot a third-round 67 to move to seven under and three off the lead held by Americans JJ Spaun, Brandt Snedeker and Beau Hossler, as well as South African Dylan Frittelli. The winner will earn the last berth at Augusta.
