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
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.
-
News
‘It’s inexcusable’ – Justin Thomas apologises for homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three was heard using the derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt.
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.
-
News
Xander Schauffele pledges to ‘fake it until I make it’ after contracting Covid
Schauffele is one of 16 players in the Sentry Tournament of Champions who failed to win an official event last season.
-
News
After years with TaylorMade, Jon Rahm joins Callaway
Spaniard will have Callaway woods and irons in his bag at Sentry Tournament of Champions.
-
News
What to expect from the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic
There are more prestigious events on the European Tour, but there’s no denying that the Dubai Desert Classic just has something about it.