We’ve all had our take on the Rory McIlroy major debate – but there’s only one opinion that matters
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Views differ on what’s next after Rory McIlroy’s Masters breakthrough. But what does he think? Well, now we know…
It seems that everyone is having their say on what’s next for Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman wrote his own chapter in golf’s history books at the Masters earlier this month, slipping into the Green Jacket at the 17th attempt and becoming just the sixth man to win the Grand Slam.
His seismic victory at Augusta National ended more than a decade of frustration and near misses in the four biggest tournaments of our game. Indeed, McIlroy’s 38 major starts between wins four and five yielded 21 top-10 finishes, including four as runner-up and more feelings of “the one that got away” than he will care to remember.
Now the discussion has turned to what happens next. Ask a number of golf fans or pundits and you’ll find division. There are those who expect McIlroy, now free of that Masters burden, to go on and win several more. There are others who expect him to sit back and be happy now he’s finally got the one he wants.
It might seem churlish to suggest those in the latter camp have not watched enough of McIlroy over the years.
He’s back in action this week as he and Shane Lowry defend their Zurich Classic title from last year. A surprise even for his good friend and teammate.
Lowry explained: “I said to my caddie on the 15th hole at Augusta, ‘No matter what happens the next few holes, I think we’re going to do well to get into New Orleans.’ If things didn’t go his way, I don’t think he’d want to be here, and I thought if things did go his way, he’d want to be somewhere else. But I’m happy he’s here.”
McIlroy, for what it’s worth, was “eager to get back out there” after a flying visit to England with wife Erica and daughter Poppy to check in on the home they are building near London before a quick stop back home in Northern Ireland to celebrate with family and friends.
“That was one of the things Shane said to me that night. ‘Are you still wanting to come and play Zurich?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’ We’re defending a title. We had so much fun last year here. Obviously it’s important for me to honor that commitment.”
For Lowry, the Masters was full of mixed emotions. The Irishman was in contention for much of the week, and he was involved in an ill-tempered exchange with reporters asking him about McIlroy’s chances while Lowry was still in the tournament. But a final-round 81 saw him tumble down the leaderboard and into a tie for 42nd.
“It was the weirdest day ever for me. I just had a bad day. I had to deal with my own disappointments first. I actually went to the locker room for 15 minutes just to gather my own thoughts, watched a bit of the golf, watched what he was doing out there. I’m just happy for him. I know what he’s been through, certainly the last 10 years since the Grand Slam was on, the pressure that’s been put on him by everyone outside has been pretty tough and he’s had to deal with a lot of disappointment, so it was pretty cool to see him do that.
“I think what everyone saw on the 18th green that day was just pure relief. It’s a great occasion for everybody in golf.
“At the end of the day, it’s history. Sixth person ever to do the Grand Slam is no joke. Jordan [Spieth] has a chance to do it in a couple of weeks, but will it ever be done again? Who knows. It’s a pretty tough thing to do, and Rory has found that out over the last 15 years.”
And so we come full circle to the question that started this all.
What next?
“I think Rory’s goals are,” Lowry said before a pause.
“Who cares anymore?” he joked before McIlroy chimed in.
“I care!”
Then, with a more serious tone in his voice, he added: “The whole day on Sunday at Augusta, I don’t think I’ll have to ever play a harder round of golf in my life. I certainly don’t want to be placed back on that 15th tee box on that Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t know if it gives me more confidence. I’ve always been very confident in my abilities as a golfer.
“To be able to get through that and produce the shots when I needed to, that obviously gives me confidence, and I can always draw back on that experience.”
McIlroy has been working with renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella, and he sees that as key for going on to achieve his goal of joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Walter Hagen as the only golfers in double figures.
“The one thing I try to do after the end of every round is look myself in the mirror and say, ‘That’s how I want to feel when I play golf.’ If that’s my goal for the rest of my career and I can go after every round and I can look in the mirror and I can say that to myself, then the results will take care of themselves.”
He added: “I honestly could not be in a better place in my life. Professionally, personally, all of it.”
Next up is the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow – a golf course on which McIlroy has won four times. Then it’s the US Open – a tournament that McIlroy goes into off the back of two runner-up finishes. Then major season finishes at Royal Portrush – a layout where McIlroy holds the course record and the scene of Lowry’s own major breakthrough at The Open six years ago.
The fact that suggesting McIlroy could win all four this year isn’t met with a swathe of derision says it all about where he’s at right now.
“He can take it easy for a while,” Lowry smiled with a little attempt at some reverse psychology of his own.
Take it easy? McIlroy doesn’t know the meaning of the phrase.
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Rory McIlroy has discussed what's next as he bids for more majors.
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Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy will defend their title at the Zurich Classic.
