Although he played the Zurich Classic of New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, a pairs event where he was accompanied by his great friend Shane Lowry, the Truist Championship starting this Thursday at the Wissahickon Course of the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, marks the return to individual competition for Rory McIlroy after being crowned winner of the Masters Tournament.
This Wednesday, after playing nine practice holes yesterday and another nine this morning, he went through the press room to talk about his current moment. As expected, many of the questions were related to both his triumph in the famous Green Jacket tournament, which ended a long drought in the Majors and completed the coveted Grand Slam, as well as what he has done since then.
“We went as a family, Poppy, Erica, and I, first to London to see our new house, which we have been building for a couple of years. It was fun to see it. Then we spent the weekend in Northern Ireland. I wanted to see my parents and my close family, and also Michael Bannon. It was amazing to be back home. I didn’t want any celebration, I tried to keep it as private as possible. I just wanted to see my parents and the people closest to me, and we had two very pleasant days.”
How exciting was it for McIlroy to reunite with his parents after finally winning the Masters? “With my father, I never get that emotional, it was great to see him. Then, when I saw my mother, I… yes, we were both very emotional for a few minutes. As an only child, I have a very strong bond. I am fortunate, and I know many people feel the same, that they have a very close bond with their parents, but I think as time goes by and I get older, I realise they won’t always be there. That’s why it means even more that they were able to be there to see me complete the Grand Slam and fulfil those dreams.”
From there, the Northern Irishman almost had to return to routine: When I got back, I had to play in New Orleans as soon as I arrived, which was a fantastic week for which I didn’t have to prepare much and I could rely on Shane. And then, last week… Michael Bannon was in town, so we practised for three days, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then I had to be in New York for another three days doing other things. So when I got back home, to my usual routine, it was Sunday and Monday, then I came here… That period is behind me and I am looking forward to the coming months.”
Regarding the Masters, there was no shortage of questions about the confidence he always had that he would win it someday: “I always had hope. It’s not like I would show up at Augusta thinking I couldn’t win. If I ever felt that way, I would go to the Champions Dinner and spend the night showing off my Green Jacket, but I wouldn’t play. Yes, I always had hope. I always felt I had the game. And I think, as everyone saw in the last nine holes on Sunday, it was about overcoming… I don’t know what the right phrase is, but defeating my own mind was very important for me and overcoming that obstacle. Look, I’m just happy it’s over. I never want to live through that Sunday afternoon again. I’m glad I finished as I did and that we can all move on with our lives.”
One of the advantages for McIlroy with his triumph at Augusta is that he will no longer be asked about his drought in winning majors when he competes next week in the PGA Championship or about the Grand Slam in a year when he returns to the Masters: “I think there are several things. Obviously, I will feel more comfortable and with much less pressure, and I also return to a course that I love. I only have positive vibes for next week, with what happened a few weeks ago and my history there and how well I have played at Quail. It will probably be a bit different. I probably won’t be as nervous as in recent years when I’ve participated in major championships. I will probably be a bit better to be with my family and be a bit more relaxed. I think, overall, it will be something positive.”
Now, that pressure shifts to a good friend of his, Jordan Spieth, who will have the opportunity in the coming days to fight for the coveted Grand Slam: “I think it’s difficult for Jordan to have to do it, you have to return to the same tournament every year, but not the same golf course. I think it’s a bit different, it’s a slightly different situation for him, instead of me having to return to the same place every year and try, I suppose, to do it too. As much as you try to get into the right mindset to try to win the golf tournament and let everything else happen, it’s there. Consciously or unconsciously, you feel it. I told people, the worst I felt on Sunday at Augusta was probably when I made the birdie putt on the 10th to go 4 ahead, because I thought: ‘Oh, now I can’t fail.’ There is that pressure. You know that not only are you trying to win another tournament but you are trying to be part of history and that carries weight. Without a doubt, I have felt it at Augusta over the years. I’m sure Jordan has felt it a bit when arriving at each PGA where he has had the opportunity to do the same.”
But before the PGA, comes this Truist on a new course for McIlroy, which he is “trying to learn” and which he “finds a smaller version of Oak Hill” since “there’s not much strategy from the tee because there aren’t real obstacles, just some fairway bunkers” because “the rough isn’t very high and doesn’t pose a big penalty.” The challenge will be “ensuring good second shots and trying to get to know the greens a bit more” without obsessing over that club under 300 yards he’s working on to incorporate into his bag.
