There’s something about Rory: New approach for McIlroy as latest week of reckoning begins at Augusta

Rory McIlroy’s Masters preparation has taken a new twist as the Northern Irishman once again tries something a bit different for another assault on the Green Jacket.

So many words have been written about Rory McIlroy’s annual psychological battle with the Masters over the years you could write a book.

Somewhat pertinently, that’s exactly how he’s getting ready as he prepares for his 17th tilt at the Green Jacket and an 11th attempt to become golf’s sixth Grand Slam champion.

The Northern Irishman has seemingly tried everything to finally put that trophy he craves more than any other in his ever-expanding silverware cabinet: playing lots; not playing at all; self-help books; meditation; days-long trips to Augusta; a quick nine through Amen Corner. None of it has worked. Yet.

As well as binge-watching Netflix series Bridgerton – “Erica convinced me” – McIlroy is, he told a packed interview room ahead of the 89th Masters, reading a novel.

“For the first time in a long time, I got some fiction in my life,” he explained.

“It’s a John Grisham book, The Reckoning. It’s got off to a pretty good start.”

Which is precisely what he needs on Thursday.

McIlroy is a notoriously slow starter here. Indeed, the only times he has opened with a sub-70 round – in 2011 and 2018 – were the two years he had a genuine chance of slipping into golf’s most famous item of clothing.

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McIlroy did carry out a brief reconnaissance at Augusta the Monday after he finished in a tie for fifth at the Houston Open – partly because he was keen to see the changes after the storm damage. “There are a couple of tee shots that are a little less visually intimidating,” he reported, before adding that “it looks like you don’t have to turn the ball as much as you used to”.

It’s difficult to keep up with which version of McIlroy we’re dealing with these days. But he certainly seems more at peace than he has done in recent years. Any issues in his personal life appear to be a thing of the past, while his decision to abscond himself from the PGA Tour players’ board has worked wonders for him on the golf course.  

“Over the course of my career I think I’ve showed quite a lot of resilience from setbacks, and I feel like I’ve done the same again – especially post-June last year and the golf that I’ve played since then, and it’s something that I’m really proud of.

“Look, you have setbacks and you have disappointments, but as long as you can learn from them and move forward and try to put those learnings into practice I feel like is very, very important. I feel like I’ve showed that quite a lot over the course of my career.

“When you have a long career like I’ve had, luckily, you just learn to roll with the punches, the good times, the bad times, knowing that if you do the right work and you practice the right way, that those disappointments will turn into good times again pretty soon.”

Part of coping with those setbacks has been the result of becoming a parent.

“It definitely makes the lows a little easier to take,” he said of four-year-old daughter Poppy, who is here with him this week.

“After The Players, I think it was the first time that she realized what I did, which was really cool. Also, a little scary at the same time.

“It’s amazing that I can share these things with her and with Erica.”

McIlroy laughed as he suddenly remembered a recent incident.

“The day after The Players, she went into school and a couple of kids had said some stuff to her. She came home to me that day and said, ‘Daddy, are you famous?’ I said, ‘It depends who you talk to.’ It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. You have to temper the expectations sometimes.”

If the 89th Masters ends with Scottie Scheffler slipping the Green Jacket on McIlroy’s shoulders in Butler Cabin, that will be one less thing he’ll need to worry about.