McIlroy says he tries to tune out ‘noise’ over his Masters prospects
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Many people are talking about whether this will be Rory McIlroy’s year to win the Masters, but he says he’s trying to tune all of that out.
He called it noise and said he just needs to focus on his game.
He says he has to treat the Masters like all the other tournaments he plays each year.
He spoke about that and other topics during a news conference Tuesday ahead of this year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Among the topics was overcoming obstacles.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve shown quite a lot of resilience from setbacks,” he said.
“It’s something I’m really proud of. ... You have setbacks and disappointments, and as long as you can learn from them,” that’s the goal, he said.
“When you have a long career like I have, you sort of just learn to roll with the punches,” he said, adding that if you hang in there, “disappointments will turn into good times pretty soon.”
Even though the Masters is a big week, he said he tries to prepare for it pretty similarly to how he prepares for other tournaments.
“I try to check the boxes and feel as confident as I can,” he said.
Looking back to his first time at Augusta National, did he know it would be one of his favorite places?
“I was just happy to be driving by Magnolia Lane” at the time, he said, calling it “the absolute thrill of a lifetime.”
He said he’s learned that you have to allow yourself to be a little vulnerable to get a payoff.
Like many people, he said there was a time in his life that “as a self-preservation mechanism,” he held back on the golf course.
He’s moved past that.
“I’ve become a little more comfortable in laying everything out there and being somewhat vulnerable at times,” he said.
He’s made a commitment to give a little more of himself during these weeks.
As far as the tree loss at Augusta National after Hurricane Helene, he said it’s a little noticeable and there are a couple of tee shots that are a little less intimidating.
But he doesn’t feel like the course really plays any differently.
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