RORY MCILROY MAY have ended the Arnold Palmer Invitational well off the pace but the Northern Irishman felt he made progress with the Masters looming large.
McIlroy marked his debut appearance at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge with a share of 11th position at 11 under, eight shots behind back-to-back champion Matt Every on Sunday.
The 25-year-old carded a two-under-par 70 in the final round of the PGA Tour event, having gone 70, 66 and 71 previously.
Ideally, McIlroy would have preferred to be closer to Every at the end of play, but the four-time major winner was happy with his game as he gears up a tilt at April’s Masters at Augusta.
“I feel like I got what I wanted out of the week, four good competitive rounds,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. ”I saw some progress on some of the things I was working on last week, but I still need to work on some things ahead of Augusta.
“It would have been nice to get into contention and feel what is was like to have a chance to win but I am happy with my progress and have another couple of weeks to work on some things and hopefully go to Augusta ready.”
McIlroy heads to Augusta on 9 April with a career grand slam on his mind.
The US Open, The Open Championship and PGA Championship winner is just one victory away from claiming all four majors, with the Masters remaining elusive.
Only six men boast a career grand slam – Bobby Jones (pre-Masters era), Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.
“I am excited going there with the opportunity to achieve three in a row, the career grand slam,” McIlroy added.
“It’s a nice position to be in. I’m going to embrace it, try not to build it up too much. I know it’s a big deal but hopefully I can get my game as good as I possibly can.
“It wasn’t quite the way I wanted to finish but it gives me what I need the next couple of weeks preparing for Augusta. I definitely feel like I’ve taken some strides in the right direction.
“There’s still a few things in my game I need to tidy up and work on but what I was working on last week, I feel like I’ve made progress in that and I’ve got a couple of weeks to work on some more stuff and hopefully be ready for the start of April.”
Do you think McIlroy will win at Augusta?
Poll Results:
- Originally published 0845
Hopefully when Kilkenny roll into town the craic will be mighty and Dr. Cullen hopping.
Well perhaps they Carlos GAA board could start with maybe organising a proper all county league . Only hurling played in the County is the championship which gives each player a maximum of 5 games in.
Even with football, each club player only gets about twelve games..
Reason Dublin are successful is because each player get 14 to 16 league games, plus championship and some cup games
Uneven spread of money to bigger counties like Dublin, Kerry , Kilkenny and cork . Money should be going to smaller counties .Why are the bigger counties , getting the largest slice of the cake .
2. Facts are he is a teacher and is apart of the demographic that will play the game into the future . People are working more unsociable hours than ever before . I believe Pat Spillane alluded to this a number of years ago .. . And it will have a detrimental effect on the game ..
I agree with the sentiment, but surely the onus is on Carlow and other such counties to get their houses in order first? If they’ve lost four hurling clubs in the past few years, can Croke Park really force clubs to start up again? And as an aside….is he really saying they’re not good enough for the top level of the championship, and maybe shouldn’t be there after all?
They should dismantle it and football and concentrate on some we’re fairly OK at. Rugby
There is a culture of entitlement in Carlow, not just in GAA circles,that allows them to moan & groan about their situation but fail to understand that results and improvements come as a result of good structure & governance, initiative & hard work. The article is from the heart and no doubt, borne out of disappointment & frustration, but the heartening part is the author appears to have the wherewithal to contribute constructively to an improving situation.
@Liam Mernagh: thats a load of rubbish !!
@eamonn farrell: you’re entitled to your opinion, but I think Carlie’s GAA record speaks for itself. The truth can be difficult to swallow.
@Liam Mernagh: Carlow’s even.
… just to add – i don’t see why that duality of thinking is so problematic. The giving out about the Boston trip smacks of small mindedness but it’s the same black and white thinking we see everywhere these days
Agree totally with Paul.
I don’t see why you can’t develop the game from both ends of the spectrum. Put in the work in growing the game domestically and in places where it isn’t taking hold. At the same time maintain it’s profile internationally.