Rory McIlroy eased himself back into contention at The Masters with a fine 66 on Friday.
Despite a slow start for Rory McIlroy around Augusta National, he lit up the back nine before signing for an exceptional round of six-under par to put himself back inside the top 10.
The Northern Irishman’s ever elusive quest to win The Masters could well end this year.
By carding a 66 on Sunday, Rory McIlroy became only the fourth player in Masters history to shoot six-under par or lower six times or more.
The 35-year-old currently sits two shots adrift of the leader – Justin Rose.
However, at one point on Thursday it looked like he was destined for another extremely disappointing Masters.
Rory McIlroy says he forgot simple golf rule in moment of madness at The Masters
McIlroy began his first round on Thursday in excellent fashion.
The PGA Tour superstar was four-under par standing at the back of the 15th green, having hit two shots.
He then proceeded to overhit his chip into the water.
However, instead of replaying his shot from the same position, he decided to go to the other side of the water hazard to the drop zone.
And now, the Ulsterman has made a bizarre admission about what he was thinking during those sequence of events.
McIlroy responded when he was asked to explain exactly what happened on the 15th hole on Thursday:
“Yeah, you know, I hit two good shots into 15 yesterday, and I felt like I hit a pretty good chip shot. I was really surprised at not so much the speed — I knew it was a fast chip; I’ve hit that chip a hundred times around this golf course — it was just more the first bounce was so firm. I mean, that green is so much firmer than any other green, even the other — the three newer greens.
“And like at that point, I didn’t know that, you know, a couple of people had done that before I did it, as well. Yeah, and then I actually — you know, I was obviously surprised that I had done that. And I forgot that I could try to play it again. I went straight to the drop zone, and then afterwards, I was thinking, like, oh, I could have tried to just chip that again.
“But I was, you know — it was just one of those things where, you know — I think that’s the thing. I was so frustrated last night because I played so well, and you can make these big numbers from absolutely nowhere on this golf course, just like the most benign position.
“So it was a good reminder. It was a good reminder last night that you just have to have your wits about it you on every single golf shot. And then today, when the second shot was in the air, it was a little touch and go. Even where the ball finished sort of on the slope, I was thinking of running to mark it to make sure it wasn’t going to run back down the hill.
“It was nice to make a 4 there. I guess just keep the momentum going that I had built up through those previous holes, 10, 11, 13.“
Rory can equal 90-year record with win at The Masters
McIlroy is obviously more than capable of winning around Augusta National.
If he putts well over the weekend, there is every chance that he will win the tournament.
And if he is triumphant at The Masters, he will equal a record that has stood for 90 years.
Rory McIlroy could become only the second player in history to complete the Grand Slam at Augusta National.
Gene Sarazen did that back in 1935. Will he be joined by Rory McIlroy in the 89th edition of The Masters this year?
There’s every chance that that could happen.
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