McIlroy admits to Masters “choke”

Rory McIlroy has revealed that he was reduced to tears after, in his own words, choking at Augusta back in April.
Rory McIlroy has revealed that he was reduced to tears after, in his own words, choking at Augusta back in April.
Few can forget the 80 he produced on the final day of the Masters to turn a four-shot lead into a ten-shot defeat, and McIlroy admits it left him weeping down the phone to his parents the following day.
”It might have been something one of them said like ‘You’ll be okay'”, said McIlroy.
”I said ‘It won’t be okay – at the time you feel this could be your only ever chance of winning The Masters and you’ve blown it’.
”After that I was fine. You’ve got so many emotions and thoughts going through your head, but after a couple of weeks I realised that it’s not going to be my only chance.”
It almost certainly won’t be, as a couple of months later the 22-year-old showed that he does have what it takes to win a major championship – and in convincing fashion too.
McIlroy’s showing at the US Open was undoubtedly the performance of the year in golf, as he completed a wire-to-wire victory that saw him extend his lead further with each round, eventually winning by all of eight shots.
Records tumbled and Tiger Woods comparisons abounded as McIlroy became the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923.
”Part of the motivation was trying to prove a lot of people wrong – just critics, whether they be in the media or just people from outside. You go on Twitter and you see a lot of comments,” he said.
”And I suppose I had to try to prove to myself that I wasn’t this player that crumbles under the pressure or folds or chokes – I hate using the word ‘choke’, but that’s exactly what happened at The Masters.
”I had to be very honest with myself. Look at my game, look at myself hard and say ‘this is what I need to improve’.”
His win at the US Open changed everything. McIlroy is now a millionaire several times over, and is a sought after player all over the globe, commanding huge appearance fees.
He is also dating Dane Caroline Wozniacki, the tennis world number one, since they met at David Haye’s world-title fight in Germany back in the summer.
“We understand we’re not going to see each other every week of the year,” McIlroy said. “A tennis career is a lot shorter than a golf one and they have to put everything into it for the eight or 10 years they’re playing.
“She definitely works harder than I do – and most of the girls on the tennis tour. If anything it’s been a great influence on me to see how hard she works and how she dedicates herself to her game.
“It’s also nice to be with someone who has the same ambition and drive.
“I don’t want to sound soppy here, but the best thing that’s happened to me off the course this year is meeting Caroline. That sounds so cheesy.”
Understandably, McIlroy is eager to return to the scene of the crime at Augusta in 2012 and right the wrongs of his infamous implosion.
“I’ll feel like I felt going into the US Open this year, that I’ll have something to prove and have a little bit extra motivation,” he said.
“And maybe a little bit of revenge as well, trying to make amends for what happened.”
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy on top but not getting ahead of himself at US PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 65 to record his lowest round in a major since the 2011 US Open.
-
News
UPS delivers a sponsorship setback to Lee Westwood
The company has ended its deal in an apparent response to Westwood’s involvement with a series of Saudi-backed events.
-
PGA Championship
Tyrell Hatton shares slow play fears as US PGA begins at Southern Hills
This week’s course layout in Tulsa looks set to exacerbate the issue.
-
PGA Championship
‘Recharged’ Shane Lowry excited for week ahead at US PGA Championship
Lowry has finished no worse than 35th in his nine starts this season.
-
PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth relishing playing alongside Tiger Woods in career grand slam bid
Spieth has had five attempts to complete the grand slam since adding the 2017 Open title to the Masters and US Open he won in 2015.
-
News
‘He has his opinion, I have mine’ – Tiger Woods on Phil Mickelson controversy
Woods said Mickelson’s comments about the PGA Tour have been “polarising”.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hoping relaxed approach pays dividends at US PGA Championship
McIlroy did his research via videos posted online before travelling to Oklahoma on Monday.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods believes he can scale another mountain and win US PGA Championship
The 46-year-old finished 47th in the year’s first major, his first top-level event since suffering severe leg injuries.
-
News
Rory McIlroy was pretty sure Saudi-backed breakaway would not happen
The Northern Irishman is waiting to see how it plays out.
-
PGA Championship
Graeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg