Rory McIlroy points out two changes he’s noticed about Augusta this year and four greens which are different to the rest

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With so much momentum with Rory McIlroy right now, the last thing he would have needed was for a curveball to be thrown his way as he drives down Magnolia Lane and gets ready for The Masters.

If Scottie Scheffler did not exist, it would be hard to see anyone other than Rory McIlroy winning The Masters this week, with the 35-year-old in superb form on the PGA Tour.

While he has perhaps played better at times over his career, he had never won twice stateside before April before 2025. And he seems to have found a way to win even when he is not firing on all cylinders.

McIlroy clinched the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship titles. And he has done so in a manner which suggests that he is more determined than ever to end his wait for a fifth major.

Rory McIlroy notes the biggest changes he has seen at Augusta National ahead of The Masters

But of course, talent is not the only factor which will decide whether McIlroy does get to put on that green jacket at long last. McIlroy is arguably the best player of his generation, but getting the job done at Augusta National has not yet been something he has found the formula for. In fact, he has rarely been in contention.

But experience matters at Augusta. You would have to go back to the 1970s for the last time there was a champion on debut at The Masters. And the good news is that there seems to have been no nasty surprises for McIlroy this week.

Speaking in his press conference on Tuesday, McIlroy spoke about the biggest changes that he has seen when he has been out on the golf course this time around.

“I played two Mondays ago, the Monday of Houston and the course was pretty fast and firm. The members had just had their jamboree tournament so the course was in great shape. It was dry. It probably a little more similar to how hopefully it is going to play by this weekend,” he said.

“Last Monday was a little soft and slow, probably what it is like out there right now after the rain yesterday.

“I think the biggest thing, I don’t think the course plays any differently. You have the four new greens in one, eight, 15 and 16, which I think everyone saw that ladies playing here on Saturday. Those greens are always a little bit firmer, especially 15 for example, watching the ball shoot through that green.

“But from a tee shot perspective there are a couple of tee shots which maybe are a little less visually intimidating. You’re thinking a tee shot like 10 with a little bit of that tree loss on the left side. Your target there is that TV or camera tower there at the bottom of the hill. You used to not be able to see that but now you can see that pretty clearly, so visually it looks like you don’t have to turn the ball as much as you used to. There is a little bit more room down the right side of three, if you want to hit driver up there, there are a couple of overhanging trees which aren’t there any more.

“But really apart from that, I think it is pretty much the same. But definitely a couple of tee shots which look a little bit different.”

Rory McIlroy’s stats at the 2024 Masters

Interestingly, McIlroy has not really had to deal with the same disappointment at The Masters as he has faced at the US Open and The Open Championship in recent years.

At St Andrews, LACC and Pinehurst, McIlroy has had golden chances to win. But, for a variety of reasons, he was unable to take those opportunities.

Of course, he would have preferred to have been in the running to win The Masters, but it may actually help that he does not have those scars from only falling away on the back nine on Sunday.

But he also needs to improve in several areas. Last year’s tied 22nd finish saw an unspectacular performance in which he was only impressive off the tee.

It feels as though you can only afford to have one part of the game prove to be slightly off if you want to win a major championship – as long as the rest of your game is at its best.

McIlroy knows that he has all of the tools this season. But whether he can put it all together for these next few days is the monumental question.

Rory McIlroy reacts as Bernhard Langer prepares for his final Masters appearance

Whatever happens, this week will be significant as it will see Bernhard Langer make his final appearance at The Masters. The two-time champion continues to defy Father Time with his performances.

Langer turns 68 later this year, but made the cut at The Masters as recently as 2020. And McIlroy could not praise his longevity high enough.

“Yeah, just amazing. Sort of like the Iron Man of golf. I’ve played with Bernhard a little bit. I played a couple of times with him in my rookie year on the European Tour in 2008, played with him in Germany, once, actually, which was really cool. And then I actually played with him in the third round of the 2020 Masters,” he said.

“Yeah, I mean, he’s been amazing. Just what he’s been able to do on the Champions Tour – what he did in his regular career but especially what he’s done post-50, I think just to have that competitive spirit and have that competitive fire burn for so long, I don’t know if I would be able to do that.

“But I think it’s unbelievably impressive. Hopefully he gets the send-off that he wants this week.”