The fact we are going into 2025 and Rory McIlroy has yet to win The Masters or that elusive fifth major, is quite remarkable.
McIlroy raced to four majors in his mid 20s and by 2014, after winning both The Open and PGA Championship, and the Northern Irishman was being tipped at the time to challenge the likes of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus’ count.
However, it’s just not gone McIlroy’s way. He has imploded more than once around Augusta National, missed cuts and big chances at The Open, and, memorably, threw the US Open away to Bryson DeChambeau this year.
Mindset has been an issue for McIlroy during that time.
And when you look into that mindset, it’s worth noting McIlroy’s comments after those two big wins in 2014 to see just how much he wants to win The Masters and subsequently, the pressure that’s put himself under.
Rory McIlroy’s obsession with winning The Masters
Speaking after winning The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014, McIlroy touched on how he was so driven by winning the career grand slam.
“I definitely hope so. I’ve really found my passion again for golf. Not that it ever dwindled, but it’s what I think about when I get up in the morning. It’s what I think about when I go to bed. I just want to be the best golfer that I can be. And I know if I can do that, then trophies like this are within my capability.
“I’d love to win a lot more and really looking forward to — even though there’s still one major left this year that I want to desperately try and win, I looking forward to next April and trying to complete the career Grand Slam.”
Just a month later, when McIlroy landed the PGA Championship, he spoke of his desire to win The Masters and admitted that from January onwards, he puts all his focus into winning at Augusta.
“I guess‑‑ I think I’ll turn my attention to Augusta at the start of the 2015 season. I don’t think I have to, I don’t have to think about it that much until then. And the body of work that I try and do between sort of January and March of each season is all geared towards getting myself ready for Augusta,” McIlroy quipped.
“By the time January 2015 rolls around, I’ll be thinking of Magnolia Lane and I’ll be thinking about trying to slip on a green jacket for that fifth major.”
Will Rory McIlroy ever win The Masters?
Eduardo Molinari has spoken of McIlroy’s issues at Augusta and that is something McIlroy is going to need to iron out if he’s to ever win.
However, McIlroy is very much tipped to win one eventually, as well as add other majors.
Ian Poulter has praised McIlroy’s drive to keep winning, while his former coach Pete Cowan has predicted McIlroy to win the Masters eventually.
Furthermore, McIlroy himself has said he’s not done winning just yet and he clearly still has winning the Masters firmly on his mind.
However, the pressure is obviously there and in a way, is self-inflicted from that early success. McIlroy, then, needs to take a step back and just play his game.
From there, the pressure might lift a touch and we might finally see McIlroy in that green jacket.
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