MCILROY: WINNING THE MASTERS WAS ‘PART OF THE JOURNEY’
Rory McIlroy speaking to BBC NI ahead of his Masters defence at Augusta National. (Photo: BBC NI)
By Paul Gallagher
So much has changed in 12 months as Rory McIlroy gets ready for the defence of his Masters title he famously won down Magnolia Lane to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the game.
Gone are the worries and trepidation of will this finally be the year the world number two gets over the line and dons the famous green jacket. Before his 2025 win it’s hard to believe the Holywood star has been pitching it up at Augusta National since 2009. He seems too young – yet it’s like he’s been around forever but is still only 36.
This week has been a completely different experience for McIlroy. He knows his worth; he knows the honour of being able to arrive at Augusta National every April for the rest of his days; he knows family and all the sacrifices his parents made for him. Rory McIlroy is a superstar, yet he is very real, the boy from Northern Ireland who did good.
“I did think winning the Masters was the destination for me and my career, but it wasn’t,” said McIlroy to BBC NI on the eve of the Masters and the day he hosted the Champions Dinner. “It’s part of the journey and I feel there’s a lot to the journey left to embark on. More Majors hopefully.
“Yeah, I’ve got four chances a year for the next 10 years hopefully when I pretty much still feel in my prime. It’ll be nice to see how many of those I can get.”
For all his success and global dominance in the game, McIlroy has always somehow remained rooted to his birthplace, something he was asked about at Augusta this week.
“It’s amazing like that’s the sort of stuff that makes me emotional,” said McIlroy referring to a photoshoot at the Giant’s Causeway with his green jacket and Grand Slam trophies.
“That’s the sort of stuff that brings me back to my upbringing and my childhood, everyone that’s been on this journey with me. So, to be a young kid from Northern Ireland and have these dreams and somehow make them come true and bring them all back to Northern Ireland, yeah that was a very cool day.”
McIlroy’s parents Rosie and Gerry sacrificed so much for their son, something he has never forgotten. He also loves to get the opportunity to play with his dad, who has been a scratch golfer and single handicapper for most of his days. Both McIlroy’s enjoyed a special round together at Augusta earlier in the week, a tradition afforded to the defending champion.
“Every time I get to play golf with my dad, it's a blessing,” said McIlroy. “We were able to win the Seminole Pro-Member this year, which is something we've wanted to do for a long time. So, it was nice to get over. Hopefully that's the most pressure I feel this year.
“It was just an amazing experience to be out there the Sunday before the Masters together and enjoy it all and soak it all in. I guess just to reminisce on the journey that we've been on. It's a long way from Holywood, Northern Ireland, so we're just trying to soak it all in.”
McIlroy is one of three Irish players to tee it up in tomorrow’s first round along with great friend Shane Lowry and Masters debutant Tom McKibbin. He is aiming to become only the fourth player in history to successfully defend the Masters. To achieve such a lofty feat, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965, 1966), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002).
McIlroy gets underway at 3:31pm Irish time tomorrow. Lowry sets off at 2:43pm and McKibbin 4:15pm.
MASTERS IN NUMBERS
IRISH AT THE MASTERS
Joe Carr 1967-1969
Darren Clarke 1998-2016
Alan Dunbar 2013
David Feherty 1992
Pádraig Harrington 2000-2022
Michael Hoey 2002
Shane Lowry 2015-2025
Matthew McClean 2023
Graeme McDowell 2005-2020
Brian McElhinney 2006
Garth McGimpsey 1986, 1987
Paul McGinley 2002, 2006
Rory McIlroy 2009-2025
Tom McKibbin 2025
Christy O’Connor Jnr 1977
Seamus Power 2022, 2023
Ronan Rafferty 1990, 1991
James Sugrue 2020
Most Masters victories: Jack Nicklaus (6) 1963, 65, 66, 72, 75, 86
Youngest Masters winner: Tiger Woods (21) in 1997
Oldest Masters winner: Jack Nicklaus (46) in 1986
Wire-to-wire winners: Craig Wood (1941), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1962), Raymond Floyd (1976), Jordan Spieth (2015).
Most Runner-ups: (4) Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tom Weiskopf
First time winners: (3) Horton Smith (1934), Gene Sarazen (1935), Fuzzy Zoeller (1979)
Holes in one: 34