What a difference a year can make.
Actually it’s a bit less than a year’s time since Saturday at the 2018 Masters where, in his post round press interview, Rory McIlroy said that the pressure to win that Sunday at Augusta was squarely on Patrick Reed, not on him.
Reed was paired with McIlroy in the final Sunday Masters group, a rematch of sorts of the 2016 Ryder Cup showdown that proved to be the most raucous, in-your-face golf match anyone has ever seen. Reed, billed as “Captain America” took down the Irish Wunderkind, and it seemed to me that Rory was whistling in the dark that Masters Saturday.
His words notwithstanding, it was apparent Rory felt it was he in the crucible of unrelenting pressure to win the career grand slam. He needed the Masters to elevate him to golf’s equivalent of immortality but his efforts that day were all too human.
What seemed a crushing defeat last April can now be seen as a turning point, a departure on a new path taken by Rory to master the mental game, to acquire the calm and strength to slay his past Augusta demons.
Those demons had seemed to transfer to any and all tournaments that Rory played in, as he had been unsuccessful in securing victory in nine consecutive instances of Sunday final group appearances. The word was, that despite outstanding play, especially with his long game, Rory couldn’t close.
That streak was highlighted this calendar year on the PGA Tour when Rory placed in the top 6 in five straight tourneys played. Close but no cigar.
There is no where to hide on a golf course, no one to share the blame, no way to stop the naysaying except to become inured to it.
But that alone won’t suffice. It helps to build a suit of armor but you also need some weapons, some steel of your own, some ground on which you stand and can’t be shaken.
That’s what Rory has been fashioning this past year – he’s built himself a citadel of self belief.
He now talks about his journey, about being patient, about following a process, taking care of the little things, the things that together amount to success and that will ultimately bring victory.
At times Rory has sounded like some personal optimization guru let loose from some California institute but he ain’t selling shinola. He’s not whistling in the dark anymore. He’s a man who has found his center, a golfer who has a mature understanding of the nature of major pressure coupled with a new skill in handling it’s negative effects.
In post round interviews, Rory said “This was obviously a great start to the season. It’s a massive win. But the way I played those last few holes gives me so much confidence.”
When asked how this positions him going into the Masters, Rory responded “ Yeah, I mean, look, it is, if I hadn‘t have won today, I would have said I don’t need a victory going into Augusta, but it’s very nice to get a win, especially doing it on this golf course.”
It’s clear to me that the Masters/Grand Slam issue is and has been on Rory’s mind. As golf fans, we should be thankful for that and for his newfound approach to the game.
It’s been nineteen years since Tiger Woods won the career grand slam. Rory has the chance to join him and Jack, Hogan, Sarazen and Player in that rarest of golf accomplishments next month at Augusta.
I can’t wait.
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