For many years, Augusta National may have felt like hell for Rory McIlroy.
Now, it feels like home.
A year after finally getting off the schneid at the Masters, the 36-year-old won the green jacket for the second straight year, and he did so after making frequent trips via private jet to Augusta in recent weeks, eschewing PGA Tour events to prepare for the four-day grind.
“I joked last week and going into this week, this place feels like my home course,” McIlroy said during a press conference after his triumph on Sunday. “I haven’t played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks, really. So I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss, I’m pretty comfortable with all the shots around the greens. I think it’s a good blueprint.”
McIlroy, now tied for 12th all-time with six major victories, made several day trips from Florida to Augusta in the leadup to this year’s Masters, saying goodbye to his daughter Poppy and wife Erica in the morning and reuniting with them for supper, playing practice rounds in between.
“I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her — or had dinner with Erica, probably,” McIlroy said during the tournament. “A couple of day trips like that where I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio.”
It was well worth it.
McIlroy got off to a flying start, sitting at 12-under through two rounds with a six-shot lead. Things got nervy over the weekend, as he shot 1-over 73 on Saturday and entered the final round tied with Cameron Young atop the leaderboard at 11-under, and he mustered just enough on Sunday with a 1-under 71 to secure the win.
