RORY MCILROY REVEALED Monday that he will skip the Par 3 Contest on the eve of next week’s US Masters at Augusta to focus on his goal of winning the year’s first major.
“I’m not going to play the Par 3 Contest this year as it’s just too much hassle and it’s a bit of a distraction,” said the Northern Irish golfer.
The four-time major winner will be making his eighth straight appearance in the Masters and only once has he not played the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National.
That was five years ago in 2011 when he went into the final round of his then third Masters leading by four shots before the horrible meltdown of recording a last day 80 to tumble to a share of 15th place behind South African Charl Schwartzel.
“The year I had my best chance at Augusta, and that was in 2011 as I didn’t play the Par 3 Contest so maybe the decision not to play it this year can work in my favour,” explained McIlroy.
A year ago, McIlroy recorded his best Augusta finish of fourth behind Jordan Spieth.
However in the past two years there has been more than the normal media interest in McIlroy’s choice for his Par 3 Contest caddy.
In 2014 then fiancee and Danish-born tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki arrived on the tee having changed the colour of her hair to crimson while a year ago younger Augusta fans were in a frenzy when One Direction’s Niall Horan carried McIlroy’s clubs.
Not for a first time in his career, McIlroy spoke openly of his emotions in remarking he was ‘cheesed off’ following his WGC – Dell Match Play semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual champion Jason Day.
And then after losing the third place shoot-out to Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello it was clear McIlroy could not leave the Austin Country Club course quick enough.
Long-time coach Michael Bannon has arrived from Belfast to Palm Beach Gardens and will spend the week with McIlroy at the exclusive Bears Club honing the game of the current world number three.
- ‘Sign of confidence’ -
And while McIlroy heads to Augusta not having tasted success on the PGA Tour this year he was upbeat about his chances of not only being fitted with a Masters green jacket but also becoming a member of golf’s ultra-elite Grand Slam winners club.
“I was just so flat out there in my match with Rafa and I was hardly holing a putt out there, and really just wanted to get out of the place,” he said.
So I will get into Augusta on Sunday night and play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
“As for my game, I do feel as though I am similar to where I was with my game last year as I am very happy with my game as everything feels pretty good.
“And I guess you can see it as a sign of my confidence that I am not going to Augusta early as the course changes so much just from Wednesday to Thursday.
“So compared to a year ago and all the hype of winning the Grand Slam, I already feel a little more mellow and a lot more chilled.
This year you have the attention spread between Jordon (Spieth) going back to defend and Jason (Day) winning for a second week in a row and also there’s Adam (Scott) who has won at Augusta before and is coming off his back-to-back wins.
“So there’s a lot more going on around others competing in the Masters this year already than the spotlight I found myself in a year ago.”
McIlroy spoke also of his excitement in having arranged an Augusta practice round with the British-born talented pair of Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Sullivan is making his Masters debut while it will be 21-year-old Fitzpatrick’s first as a professional, and after having made his debut in 2014 as the then reigning U.S. Amateur champion.
I’ve arranged with Matt Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan to play a practice round with them one day, so that will be nice to sort of show them the Augusta ropes.
“But then they’re also very talented and I’m sure they’ll learn fast.”
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There were many standout moments this year, many players that stepped up to the mark but for me the one player who epitomized all the good things about Leinster is Robbie Henshaw. Himself and Ringrose make Leinsters and Ireland’s best centre pairing and consistently deliver a quality of performances not matched by others either here or abroad. Long may it continue.
My wish for 2021? That we can get back to supporting our team. God I miss the RDS match days.
@Ro Molloy: so true
So if you include last seasons victories with this seasons, it something like 27 played and 26 wins. Which is an incredible stat.
@Greg Cavey: 28 out of 29 if you Champions Cup. That’s phenomenal. However they haven’t played any decent teams this yet this season. The lack of depth in most PRO14 squads makes it easy for them when the internationals are on.
Munster & Ulster are also too strong for most other PRO14 teams.
Leinster were convincing in Europe. Munster showed grit and hinted that real progress is being made. Ulster? More depth required & maybe more quality in some positions.
Playing in the PRO14 isn’t improving Leinster but maybe when the top SA teams join it will improve them & the other Irish provinces and therefore the national team.
@TL55: Why would they need to improve…They are the best in the league by far.
@Harry O’Callaghan: To beat the likes of Saracens, Exeter and Toulouse.
Leinster correctly want to the big fish in the big pond not just the little pond.
@Harry O’Callaghan: So champions cup quarter final losses are the acceptable Leinster standard now are they? Do you think Exeter aren’t looking to improve or will they just sit and wait for someone to take the champions cup and premiership from them?
@Kohn Jeenan: it’s acceptable to lose 1 game of rugby per season. This can happen if you can’t see the improvement year on year at leinster well your just not looking.
@Chris Mc: I didn’t say they aren’t improving though, they are, I was saying they definitely need to keep improving, since it was implied they don’t need to improve at all just for being the best club in the pro14….
@Chris Mc: do you not think leinster have some issues at the setpiece? Furlong should shore up the scrum but leinster still have a bit of a dependence on toner
@Tim Magner: the leinster lineout is very poor even with toner in it.
Any team who competes in the air will win a fair amount of leinster ball. Its hard to understand as Cullen was a very good lineout operator.
Its far too complicated, too many moving parts and as simple as it sounds putting toner (or Ryan) straight up at 2 often discourages teams from competing and as such makes ball to the back easier to win in the long run.
@Chris Mc: I just don’t think the leinster pack has improved since ’18. Back then they had probably the 2 best props in europe in furlong & healy, ryan was on fire, toner was 2 yrs younger, fardy was keeping lowe out of the hcup squad and leavy was at his best. Since then porter and doris have shown their mettle at international level and baird looks a serious prospect but I dont think the pack now is as good as it was
@Tim Magner: fair point, healy is not getting any younger and Jack is gone. Furlong will be back soon enough and porter is a fine prop.
Hooker we are in a better place and while Ryan is not playing as well as he was what’s coming through with baird Dunne and Moloney is getting better. The backrow is better now. Leavy is almost there and doris is firing, Conan, jvdf, connors, penny ruddock Murphy etc are all seriously pushing each other. This pack will gell over the next few months. Only real concern is at looshead.
@Chris Mc: yer by no means in a bad place, ye still have the best pack in the pro14. I think the 18 pack was the best in europe though. As you say though the 2 young hookers look the business, penny has the look of a class player and baird could be special so as a munster fan I know leinster are going nowhere
@Tim Magner: I guess time will tell with this lot. In fairness the munster pack is becoming a serious unit too. Bar kilcoyne your missing a front row but have a few younger ones who could step up but the likes of coombes JOD and Aherne all could really make the grade. Theres nothing like players who grew up wanting to play for a club.