JP Fitzgerald once lit a fire under Rory McIlroy’s backside by telling him “you’re Rory effing McIlroy!” Rory plans to jee himself up for Sunday’s showdown by reminding himself that he is the Masters champion after he relinquished a six-shot lead in round three.
McIlroy spoke about maintaining his aggression and while he couldn’t quite dominate on the scoreboard early on Saturday by the time he stood on the 11th tee after a birdie on 10 he was 13-under and three clear. The chasing pack were snapping at his heels but his solid if unspectacular round was keeping them at bay. That was until he got tentative around Amen Corner with a double bogey, bogey, par run which blew the tournament wide open and he was forced to settle for a share of the lead with Players champion Cameron Young.
It’s the fourth time McIlroy has been in the final group on Sunday at Augusta National and the third time he has had the lead or co-lead and after last year’s drama he imagines he will play a bit freer than that famous day. He will remind himself of who he is first and foremost.
“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, you know, like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do. Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, like, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. You know, the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier,” said McIlroy who is actually feeling positive about a potential head to head with Young although with five shots separating eleven players, anyone can have their say.
“Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all. I wish I was a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days. Playing with him again tomorrow. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”
McIlroy was 90th of 91 players in fairways hit after 36 holes but his mantra was just keep swinging and avoid trying to steer the golf ball. He admits he deviated away from that tactic and it cost him dearly, yet he knows Saturday at Amen Corner isn’t the worst time to get caught out.
“Maybe 12 tee shot and 13 tee shot. Maybe guarding against going left there. But then apart from that, I hit a good drive on 14; a good drive on 15; not a great drive on 17; but a great drive at the last. I kept committing to trying to make good swings, but yeah, there was probably a little — when I made the double at 11, I probably got a little bit, you know, uneasy on 12 and 13, which I think is understandable.”
McIlroy struggled with a leg this for much of the day and after his media duties he went straight to the range to rectify the issue.
“I hit some quality shots, but then I hit some poor ones. The iron swing on the sixth hole, missing that green left. You know, the iron swing on 12, missing that green left.
“There was just a couple where I had maybe awkward numbers or trying to take a little bit off and I missed those ones left. So something to maybe go and work on tonight and, again, try to figure that out.”
McIlroy did bounce back from his hellish Amen Corner run with birdies on 14 and 15 but he knows he must perform better to not only shrug off Young but a chasing pack which includes world number one Scottie Scheffler who is only four off the lead all of a sudden.
When McIlroy bogeyed the 72nd last year he was given a timely reminder by his right hand man Harry Diamond that he would have taken a playoff starting the week. If you had offered him a share of the lead after 54-holes this week he would have taken it too.
“I have to look at the positives even though there isn’t that many to take today. But I did bounce back. I hit some good shots coming in.
“I’m in a great position. I just know I need to be better tomorrow to have a chance.”
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