Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson doesn’t think that the weight of expectation is holding Rory McIlroy back from completing the career grand slam and feels executing the shots at the right time will be his biggest mental hurdle next week.
Only four players have taken thirteen attempts or more to win the Masters, with Sergio Garcia setting the record at 19 in 2017, and McIlroy will be bidding to become just the sixth player to complete the career grand slam on his 17th attempt at winning at Augusta National.
McIlroy has suffered heartbreak at the Masters in 2011 and 2018 while there have been a string of near misses in his bid to claim his first major since 2014.
“Yeah, that’s challenging,” Mickelson said of the expectations on McIlroy ahead of the Masters.
“But he’s done it so many times in his ability to win tournaments. He’s been able to compartmentalise that. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for him.”
Mickelson, who won his first green jacket on his 12th attempt in 2004 thinks McIlroy’s driving gives him a distinct advantage around Augusta National but feels he must pick and choose when to be aggressive.
“I think he drives the ball so long and straight that he has a huge advantage on that golf course. He and about 20 guys that drive it like he does will have an advantage of playing it a certain way.
“They can play it a certain way that is much more aggressive and take advantage of holes than some others; than guys like myself. But you still have to execute, you still have to hit the shots, and I think that’s what he’s focused on.
“I think his ability to compartmentalise all the things that have transpired in the past is a strength of his, so I don’t think it’ll be an issue or I don’t think that’s what’s holding him back from winning the Masters.”
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