AUGUSTA, Ga. – Seven years removed from his last major championship and nearly 18 months since his last win, it would be easy for Rory McIlroy to focus on the past. But the two-time FedExCup champion arrives at Augusta National – the final barrier standing between him and the career Grand Slam – with an eye toward the future. “I’m obviously focused on this week, but it’s bigger than that,” McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday. “It’s a journey, right, and it’s a journey to try to get back to playing the game the way I know that I can play the game.” RELATED: Tee times | Roundtable: Predictions | Power Rankings McIlroy recently added swing coach Pete Cowen to his stable as he tries to break out of a slump brought on by his desire to emulate Bryson DeChambeau’s eye-popping distance. McIlroy has known Cowen since he was a teenager. Their familiarity was a big reason that McIlroy selected Cowen from the cadre of coaches who inhabit a PGA TOUR driving range on a weekly basis. McIlroy’s childhood coach, Michael Bannon, is still part of Team McIlroy, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for McIlroy to get face time with him. Cowen, meanwhile, has been in the United States for months. While there may be some concern that the Northern Irishman will get bogged down in mechanics under a new coach, McIlroy promises the opposite is true. “I’m actually getting away from a lot of technical thoughts. I’m actually going the other way,” he said. In an attempt to add distance, McIlroy said his swing got too flat and too long. Under Cowen, he wants to gain a better understanding of his swing so he can make quick fixes in the middle of rounds. “When you don’t understand why you’re hitting certain shots, you can become lost and you can start to think of all sorts of stuff. And I felt like every time I was going to the range, I was trying something different,” McIlroy said Tuesday. Cowen is helping McIlroy gain control of his wedge play, as well. His inconsistent distance control with his short irons has often led to squandered scoring opportunities. McIlroy expects to play more “flighted” shots, bringing down his trajectory to better control his ball, and playing more conservatively to eliminate the big number. “I think being a little bit more in control of what I do, … that’s the sort of golfer that I want to be going forward,” he said. The big number has plagued him several times at this tournament. He had a round of 77 or higher in six Masters appearances in a seven-year span (2010-14, ’16). A decade ago, he famously shot a final-round 80 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round. Last year, he rebounded from a first-round 75 to finish T5, shooting 14 under par in his final three rounds. He’s finished in the top 10 in all but one Masters since 2014. He arrives at Augusta National ranked 43rd in the FedExCup, with four top-10s in 11 starts. His recent play has been inconsistent, however. In his last four stroke-play starts, he sandwiched a pair of top-10s between two missed cuts, including a 79-75 showing in his title defense at THE PLAYERS. He did not advance out of his group in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. McIlroy, 31, hopes his recent past is just prologue to a new chapter in his career, though. “I’m just at the start of a journey here,” he said Tuesday, “that I know will get me back to where I want to be.”
Rory McIlroy arrives at the Masters with eye on the future
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1st Round 3-Balls – R. Pampling / D. Barron / S. Flesch | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Barron | +140 |
Rod Pampling | +150 |
Steve Flesch | +260 |
1st Round 3-Balls – R. Goosen / F. Couples / J. Leonard | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Retief Goosen | +115 |
Justin Leonard | +220 |
Fred Couples | +230 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Stricker / D. Clarke / S. Alker | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Steve Stricker | +105 |
Steven Alker | +150 |
Darren Clarke | +400 |
1st Round 3-Balls – D. Toms / M.A. Jimenez / J. Furyk | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | -105 |
David Toms | +180 |
Jim Furyk | +350 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Ames / E. Els / T. Jaidee | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stephen Ames | +150 |
Ernie Els | +160 |
Thongchai Jaidee | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Up – L. List v T. Detry | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Luke List | -115 |
Thomas Detry | -105 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – G. Higgo / R. Werenski / B. Burgoon | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | +130 |
Bronson Burgoon | +200 |
Richy Werenski | +210 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. Hossler / S. Jaeger / C. Young | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stephan Jaeger | +145 |
Beau Hossler | +150 |
Carson Young | +250 |
2nd Round Six-Shooter – Group A – S. Jaeger / A. Bhatia / B. Hossler / A. Novak / A. Rai / C. Davis | |
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Stephan Jaeger | +350 |
Beau Hossler | +400 |
Aaron Rai | +425 |
Akshay Bhatia | +425 |
Andrew Novak | +425 |
Cameron Davis | +500 |
2nd Round Match-Up – N. Dunlap vs G. Higgo | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | -110 |
Nick Dunlap | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Hossler vs A. Rai | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -110 |
Beau Hossler | -110 |
1st Round 3-Balls – J. Kelly / V. Singh / J. Durant | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jerry Kelly | +105 |
Vijay Singh | +225 |
Joe Durant | +240 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Hubbard v J. Dahmen | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Mark Hubbard | -115 |
Joel Dahmen | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. NeSmith v P. Coody | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt NeSmith | -140 |
Pierceson Coody | +115 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – T. Montgomery / H. Hall / R. Fox | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery | +150 |
Ryan Fox | +160 |
Harry Hall | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – A. Baddeley / J. Teater / D. Wu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dylan Wu | +140 |
Aaron Baddeley | +170 |
Josh Teater | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Davis / C. Hadley / A. Rai | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | +130 |
Cam Davis | +180 |
Chesson Hadley | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Hahn / J. Lower / S. Stevens | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Stevens | +150 |
Justin Lower | +160 |
James Hahn | +225 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Svensson vs C. Davis | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Svensson | -120 |
Cam Davis | +100 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – P. Malnati / S. Scheffler / W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -175 |
Will Zalatoris | +260 |
Peter Malnati | +430 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Hardy / T. Moore / C. Reavie | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | +110 |
Nick Hardy | +210 |
Chez Reavie | +240 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Bhatia vs P. Malnati | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | -130 |
Peter Malnati | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – T. Moore vs J. Highsmith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -160 |
Joe Highsmith | +135 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – R. Brehm / K. Kisner / S. Cink | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Stewart Cink | +105 |
Ryan Brehm | +220 |
Kevin Kisner | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Knapp / A. Bhatia / A. Svensson | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Akshay Bhatia | +160 |
Jake Knapp | +160 |
Adam Svensson | +200 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Dunlap / L. List / K.H. Lee | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
K H Lee | +150 |
Luke List | +160 |
Nick Dunlap | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Wallace / G. Woodland / B. Snedeker | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | +120 |
Gary Woodland | +140 |
Brandt Snedeker | +350 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K.H. Lee vs S.H. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
K H Lee | -130 |
S H Kim | +110 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Laird / A. Cook / M. NeSmith | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt NeSmith | +150 |
Martin Laird | +160 |
Austin Cook | +220 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – K. Mitchell / D. Ghim / G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | +140 |
Doug Ghim | +170 |
Greyson Sigg | +225 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Meissner vs G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | -130 |
Mac Meissner | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Novak vs T. Pendrith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | -125 |
Taylor Pendrith | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – L. Maguire / X. Lin / B. Tardy | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xiyu Lin | +130 |
Leona Maguire | +160 |
Bailey Tardy | +275 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Dahmen / L. Griffin / K. Chappell | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joel Dahmen | +110 |
Lanto Griffin | +210 |
Kevin Chappell | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. Wu / T. Detry / A. Novak | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Novak | +150 |
Thomas Detry | +150 |
Brandon Wu | +240 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Lee / B. Henderson / R. Yin | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooke Henderson | +175 |
Minjee Lee | +175 |
Ruoning Yin | +175 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Meissner / R. McCormick / C. Hammer | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Mac Meissner | +130 |
Cole Hammer | +200 |
Ryan McCormick | +200 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – Parker Coody / Pierceson Coody / J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Parker Coody | +140 |
Jacob Bridgeman | +150 |
Pierceson Coody | +260 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Hull / L. Thompson / A. Lee | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | +145 |
Charley Hull | +160 |
Lexi Thompson | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Skinns / T. Whitney / S. Bennett | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Skinns | +175 |
Sam Bennett | +175 |
Tom Whitney | +175 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – N. Xiong / M. Greyserman / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | +135 |
Norman Xiong | +185 |
Patrick Fishburn | +210 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Tosti v T. Whitney | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -110 |
Tom Whitney | -110 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – T. Olesen / J. Highsmith / D. van der Walt | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +120 |
Joe Highsmith | +140 |
Dawie Van Der Walt | +350 |
Hero Indian Open | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Keita Nakajima | +150 |
Romain Langasque | +500 |
Joost Luiten | +600 |
Matteo Manassero | +900 |
Jeong Weon Ko | +2000 |
Johannes Veerman | +3000 |
Veer Ahlawat | +3000 |
Fabrizio Zanotti | +4500 |
Jeff Winther | +4500 |
Matthew Jordan | +4500 |
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Major Specials 2024 | |
Type: To Win A Major 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +105 |
Jon Rahm | +225 |
Rory McIlroy | +225 |
Viktor Hovland | +225 |
Brooks Koepka | +350 |
Ludvig Aberg | +350 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Collin Morikawa | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Wyndham Clark | +450 |
Click here for more… | |
The Masters 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +450 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Jordan Spieth | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +2500 |
Joaquin Niemann | +2500 |
Justin Thomas | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1400 |
Brooks Koepka | +1600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
Wyndham Clark | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
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US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +700 |
Rory McIlroy | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +900 |
Viktor Hovland | +1000 |
Cameron Smith | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +1800 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2000 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
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Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |