Rory McIlroy reveals he was given ‘colourful’ pep talk before second-round 66

Rory McIlroy followed his worst first round at the Masters with one of his best – and then revealed how a “colourful” pep talk was responsible for the change in fortunes.
McIlroy’s opening 75 was his worst in 12 Masters appearances and left him battling to make the cut, but he bounced back in style with a second round of 66 to finish three under par, six shots off the clubhouse lead.
“Jimmy gave me a pep talk in between rounds going on to the range,” McIlroy said, referring to his friend and Augusta National member Jimmy Dunne.
“I honestly have been playing so good coming in here, and then I go into the first round and I shoot 75, and I’m like, ‘where the hell did that come from?’.
“I knew it was in there, it was just a matter of trusting a little more and being committed. It was better this afternoon.”
75-66 for Rory. A fine response.#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/MwNoc8F9vG
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 13, 2020
Asked to describe the pep talk, McIlroy joked: “It was colourful.
“Hopefully I’ve got my eye in the last 18 holes and I need a couple of days pretty similar over the weekend to give myself a chance.”
McIlroy faced a bunker shot on the 10th hole when the first round resumed on Friday morning, but failed to save par and then had to take a penalty drop from the undergrowth with the aid of a club member following a wild drive on the 13th, but at least remembered his manners.
“Thanks and sorry for getting your green jacket dirty,” McIlroy said to the official before pitching back on to the fairway on his way to another dropped shot.
McIlroy also bogeyed the 14th and followed a much-needed birdie on the 15th by pulling his tee shot on the 16th into the water.

“That’s so bad, oh my God,” McIlroy exclaimed in exasperation, although he was at least able to salvage a bogey following a mediocre pitch from the drop zone.
“I was thinking coming into this morning, get this ball up and down on 10, play the last few holes in three or four under par, get in and then go again, and I did the complete opposite,” McIlroy added.
“That wasn’t ideal, and obviously wasn’t what I was thinking of. I turned it around nicely and shot a good one, at least gave myself a chance going into the weekend.”
McIlroy started his second round on the back nine and birdied the 10th, 12th, 15th and 17th before picking up further shots on the second and eighth.
Latest
-
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
-
PGA Tour
Lee Kyoung-Hoon shoots his lowest round on the tour to retain Texas title
Dallas-born Jordan Spieth went close with a chip for eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
-
European Tour
Sam Horsfield ‘so happy’ after winning Soudal Open to secure another title
Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling final-round battle.