Justin Thomas has explained that players, including himself, often make the same mistake in the build-up to the Masters Tournament.
The first major championship of the season is now less than one week away, so it’ll definitely be at the forefront of players’ minds.
Even those competing at the Valero Texas Open and LIV Golf Miami this weekend will be thinking about doing well at Augusta National.
One man who must be itching to tee off next Thursday is world number two Rory McIlroy, who might have done something wrong in his preparation.
Justin Thomas says what players do wrong before The Masters
Thomas discussed The Masters on the Throwback podcast recently, where he admitted that it’s so difficult to treat the event the same as every other.
The excitement builds in the days leading up to the first round, and some players burn out before the tournament even starts.
That’s why Thomas decided not to play any practice rounds at Augusta this year, while he’s also aware of not doing too much when he arrives at the course next week.
He said: “My caddy and I were just recently talking about that. It’s so funny. A lot of people do it for a lot of the majors, but especially The Masters. It’s the first one of the year, it’s Augusta, and it’s a tournament everyone wants to win. It’s the biggest life changer.
“It’s just the amount of overpreparation that is done for it. And I have done it, I will be the first to admit. It’s like, ‘Are you taking any trips this year? Are you going up there?’ I’m not this year.
“I have pretty much done it every year. It is nice when you’re at the beginning of your career to get that awe factor out and just get to know the lay of the land a little bit. But I have never left that tournament feeling like, ‘Wow if I knew this course a little better I think I would have played it.’ I am like, ‘No!’ I just needed to putt it better or chip it better. At the end of the day, it is just golf.
“But it’s so hard, and I am still working on it, to try and treat it the same and not over prepare. That is what I struggle with the most, getting to tournaments like that, and it will be the middle of the day on Tuesday and I’m ready to go. It’s a day and a half [before you start], and by that time, you are flat.
“It’s almost like tapering a little bit, of just doing a little bit here, and the facilities are so good that you feel like you have to be out there. The next thing you know, you have had three straight 10-hour days, and I am exhausted before the week starts.”
Rory McIlroy might have overprepared for the 2025 Masters Tournament
Justin Thomas’ comments about overpreparation for The Masters seem particularly applicable to Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy needs the Green Jacket to become only the sixth golfer ever to complete the career Grand Slam, alongside Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan.
That’s probably why he takes his preparation for the event so seriously. McIlroy has travelled to Augusta twice recently to build confidence at the course.
The 35-year-old is experienced enough to know what works for him, but there has to be some concern that he wants to win The Masters too much.
Only time will tell but perhaps a more relaxed approach, like Thomas’, would be beneficial to the Northern Irishman in future.
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