Rory McIlroy makes form admission ahead of Masters as Jon Rahm’s LIV Golf threat looms
As the lead up to the Masters at Augusta National now begins to take shape, Rory McIlroy has made an admission about his form as he looks to win his first green jacket
Rory McIlroy believes he is coming into form despite his struggles at the Genesis International – with a Masters battle against Jon Rahm on the horizon.
McIlroy is yet to have a green jacket bestowed on him, with his best showing at Augusta National coming in 2022 when he finished as runner-up. The four-time major championships victor is now setting his sights on finally earning the one standout prize that has evaded him during his glittering career thus far.
Despite a disappointing performance at the Genesis International, where he is four-under-par heading into the final day and trailing Patrick Cantlay, he is now hopeful that he can gain some momentum in the coming months. His next outings will be at the Cognizant Classic before the end of the month, before the orthodox starts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship and the Valero Texas Open.
“Pebble was a bit of a write-off,” McIlroy said at the Genesis International. “It was a very strange round on that first day going from six-under to one-under really quickly. And then yeah, it was just sort of, I don’t know, I wouldn’t say – not that I wasn’t giving it my all, but it was just sort of one of those weeks where… I wasn’t fully in it, I guess.
“I did some good work last week,” he noted, giving an update on how he was feeling. “My coach Michael Bannon came over and I felt pretty good about everything this week even though obviously not quite in contention. Game’s feeling pretty good.”
McIlroy’s admission that he is coming into form despite some struggles in the PGA Tour event in California may leave some rivals for the Masters crown apprehensive. One star who will be looking to buck a trend that has followed him throughout his career is LIV Golf rebel Rahm, who will be defending his title at Augusta National in April.
Showing that it is seemingly something that has played on his mind at times during his career, Rahm admitted that he was eager to retain his title at the Mexican Open in 2023. He confessed: “I’ve only been able to defend the Spanish Open as a professional, so it wouldn’t be the worst thing if I could make the Mexico Open be my next defence.”
As Tony Finau clinched victory at Vidanta Vallarta to deny the Spaniard a second consecutive win in Mexico, Rahm’s back-to-back triumphs at the Spanish Open remain the only times he has pulled of such a feat. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson appears set on bettering last year’s showing at the Masters this time around.
The 2020 green jacket winner acknowledged: “Last year I didn’t play very well, to be honest, but it kind of goes with how much effort that goes into it too. Obviously I could have worked a lot harder than I did. This year, I’ve got a little more drive and determination.
“I don’t enjoy not playing well,” he continued, as he fired a warning to his rivals as he pulled off a LIV victory in Las Vegas. He added: “I enjoy playing well and being up here and talking to you guys after the weeks over and holding up the trophy.”
