“I didn’t aim for the creek’: Rory McIlroy reflects on nerve-shredding epic Masters win, comments on 13th hole capitulation
Rory McIlroy admits that he began the final round of his epic Masters win feeling “unbelievably nervous” before closing it out in a playoff with Justin Rose.
Rory McIlroy has acknowledged that it was only a double-bogey on the first hole of the final round that calmed his nerves before he went onto clinch a career-defining Masters win.
Late on Sunday evening, the Northern Irishman finally got his hands on a Masters green jacket after one of the most nerve-shredding days that the sport of golf has ever witnessed.
Holding a two-shot lead on the first tee, McIlroy immediately double-bogeyed and saw playing partner Bryson DeChambeau edge in front by the second hole.
McIlroy in the water! š«£ pic.twitter.com/7QkBMzjXnY
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However, McIlroy opened up a sizeable lead and held a four-shot advantage come the 13th before he played what appeared to be a simple pitch shot into the creek, costing him another double bogey.
Another dropped shot followed on 14 before he played what will be long be described as the most important shot of his career, finding the green at the par-five 15th with a whipped draw around the trees.
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But a missed eagle putt and birdie attempt on 16 saw him reach the 17th green with Justin Rose at the top of the leaderboard, a result of a 10th birdie of the day being holed from distance on 18.
McIlroy responded with one of his own on 17 to give him a one-shot lead heading down the 18th, only for another wayward pitch to contribute to a bogey that set up a playoff with Rose.
IT GOES TO A PLAY OFF! pic.twitter.com/syQqYzFLzz
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Despite the momentum being with Rose, who had at least 45 minutes to reset and prepare, McIlroy would bounce back in style that will etched into folklore, booming another drive down 18, setting up a three-foot birdie attempt and converting after Rose had missed his effort for a three.
The winning putt šŗš pic.twitter.com/TZiZnyKFrB
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McIlroy reacts to Masters win
Not only does McIlroy end a wait over a decade-long for a fifth major, he becomes the first player to complete the career Grand Slam since Tiger Woods in 2000, also becoming just the sixth player to do so in history.
Speaking at an emotional press conference, as quoted by Bunkered, McIlroy suggested that such a bad start to his final round proved to be a blessing in disguise, taking away the overnight lead that had weighed on his mind.
He said: “I certainly didn’t make it easy. I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the golf course. In a funny way, I feel like the double bogey at the first sort of settled my nerves.
“And it’s funny, walking to the second tee, the first thing that popped into my head was Jon Rahm a couple years ago making double and going on to win. So at least my mind was in the right place, and was at least thinking positively about it.
“But just a complete roller coaster of a day. It felt ā it was very tricky out there. It almost felt more like a U.S. Open than a Masters at some points just with how firm and fast the greens got.
“But yeah, just really proud of how I bounced back from the double on 1, from the double on 13. I don’t know if ā I don’t know if any Masters champions had four doubles during the week, but maybe I’m the first. But yeah, just a complete roller coaster of emotions today.
“And honestly, you know, what came out of me on the last green there in the playoff was, you know, at least 11 years, if not 14 years of pent-up emotion.”
Rory McIlroy in a green jacket š¢ pic.twitter.com/08X2lGl9dC
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McIlroy comments on the 13th hole
Such was the mis-execution of shot on 13 that it created an audible gasp around Augusta, McIlroy feeling that he had played the hole “smartly” before dumping his seemingly routine approach into the creek, also well right.
McIlroy added: “I had 82 yards to the pin. It had went into a little valley and it was on the upslope. And usually when I hit wedge shot off upslopes, they come out a little bit left on me. I gave myself like a couple of yards of room to the right.
“I wasn’t aiming at the creek, but it came out, you know, a little weak and a little right, and that was ā you know, to make a double there, when it’s a birdie chance, and then seeing what Rosey was doing, and also what Ludvig (Aberg) was doing at the time, as well.
“But at the same time, I knew I had 15 to play. The bogey didn’t help on 14, either. But I still felt like ā I still felt after the tee shot on 15 that I was still in it.
“I think the one hole that I was not worried about but was sort of in the back of my mind was 16 because that was an unusual Sunday pin on 16, probably for the 50th anniversary of Jack holing that in ’75. So that’s the one, it’s a very difficult location, and to hit the shot that I did; I think the iron shots that I hit coming in, 15, 16, 17, not quite the last in regulation, but in the playoff, I made a lot of good iron swings.
“I think over the last I don’t know how many years, it seems that the people that lead approach at this golf tournament are usually the ones that go on to win or have a very good chance. I think my approach play for the most part this week was very good.”
Despite the win, McIlroy remains behind Scottie Scheffler in the World Golf Rankings, the world number one having battled hard to secure a fourth-placed finish on his second defence of the trophy.
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