Rory McIlroy was the winner at The Players this past week and he’s not well set to give The Masters a good go when it tees off in April.
McIlroy won out in his playoff against J.J. Spaun and is now one of the firm favourites to go to Augusta and finally win that career grand slam.
Of course, with The Masters still a month away, there is golf to be played leading up in which players will hope to fine tune their game.
This weekend sees the Valspar Open bring a strong field together, followed by two events in Texas with the Houston Open and the Valero.
McIlroy, as yet, hasn’t confirmed which event he’ll play in but he did say he’s planning to play one of the Texas events and that in itself has left Rex Hoggard surprised.
Rex Hoggard explains his surprise at Rory McIlroy’s plans ahead of Augusta
Hoggard was discussing Rory McIlroy on the latest episode of his Rex and Lav show and got onto the topic of McIlroy playing again before The Masters.
And for Hoggard, McIlroy’s decision has taken him by surprise a touch.
“I was a little surprised actually. I know he had said earlier in the week that the plan was to play at least one more time before he gets to Augusta, he feels like three weeks off is too much time before heading into the first major championship. So either Houston or San Antonio is going to hit the Rory jackpot. After he won here though, I was a little surprised,” Hoggard said.
“Given that you were at a different stage in your life and career, your game is pretty solid right now. I think that’s an indication of that he is going to have to go into this week with a completely different mindset. He keeps trying to reinvent himself and I always give him credit that he keeps trying to win that Masters, trying to do that one thing that will define his career.”
Pressed further on if he feels McIlroy HAS to win this particular Masters, Hoggard said that eventually, McIlroy has to get over the line at Augusta.
“No, I didn’t think he had to win this one but eventually I think he has to win the Masters because that puts you in an entirely different conversation if you win the career Grand Slam. We know what the means to him and he has never sat back and said maybe it won’t happen.
“He is always looking for a new different way to do it, whether that is playing the week before or playing more on the West Coast or Europe. Whatever the case may be he is always trying to come up with the formula and I do appreciate that.”
Rory McIlroy told why he’s got a ‘window of opportunity’ to win The Masters
With McIlroy yet to get his win at Augusta and it being a hot topic of conversation every year, the pressure will once again be on him to perform this year.
McIlroy has not won a major for over 10 years now but everyone knows it is a green jacket he craves the most.
And according to Hoggard’s partner, Ryan Lavner, there is a big chance for McIlroy to win it right now.
“I think it is not just Rory’s excellent and now he has a signature event as well as a Players Championship on his resume for 2025, it also seems like there is a window of opportunity here,” Lavner claimed.
“Scottie Scheffler tied for 20th at the Players Championship. Xander Schauffele finished dead last among those who made the cut at TPC Sawgrass.
“Ludvig Aberg missed the cut at the Players Championship. Collin Morikawa has not won since Fall 2023, he has had his own demons trying to close out the tournament. Everything seems to be aligning as it relates to Rory.”
With The Masters field full of the best in the world, McIlroy knows it’s a tough task to actually win out.
But as Lavner suggests here, the stars are aligning and if conditions suit, he could prove unstoppable.
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