Rory McIlroy’s chances of winning The Masters in 2025 assessed as he’s told what he must stop doing

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Just when it seemed that there was enough pressure on Rory McIlroy’s shoulders whenever he drove down Magnolia Lane and arrived for The Masters, another subplot was added to the equation during the Northern Irishman’s 2024 season.

Of course, it has been the case ever since Rory McIlroy arrived for the 2015 Masters that he has been within one win of completing the career grand slam, with only a green jacket missing from his collection.

There have been times when it has appeared that the pressure has got to the 35-year-old. And the fact that he has not won any of the four majors over the last decade has only added to that pressure on his shoulders.

Unfortunately, he now has to contend with the fact that he will also face questions over how many scars the US Open at Pinehurst left, with McIlroy bogeying three of the final four holes to lose by one to Bryson DeChambeau.

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McIlroy has since got back to winning ways, but the majors hit differently for a player with his talent. That is a theatre that is so difficult to replicate throughout the season. So there is going to be a real question mark hanging over him until he tees off at Augusta National in April.

But speaking on Sky Sports, Rob Lee insisted that he has high hopes for McIlroy next year; sharing what he needs to do if he is going to finally get across the line.

“I think so [it’s a mentality issue], I think so, because you look at his game, what’s there, not only can he hit it 330 plus, his short game, people don’t give him enough credit for his short game. When he gets out of position, he gets it up and down an awful lot of times. When he putts well; he putts a lot better than people think. He really has all the ingredients to go to Augusta and win,” he said.

“And Augusta really, it’s is a defensive golf course. I know Rory can bomb it miles, find the pins, but it’s a defensive golf course. You avoid making stupid mistakes, missing the pin on the wrong side, then you can’t get it up and down and you turn a bogey into a double. Then you can’t get those two shots back. You’ll never get a double bogey back. You can make birdies, but you’ll never get the two shots back.

“So it’s a case of Rory kind of un-mistaking his way round there for four days. And at some point, I’m convinced, I’m absolutely convinced it’s going to happen.”

How McIlroy has performed at The Masters since his last major in 2014

McIlroy’s record in the majors since his most recent win in 2014 is an outstanding one. In fact, it could hardly be any better without actually winning one of the game’s biggest prizes.

He actually recorded his first top 10 at Augusta National in 2014, while he has been in the top 10 for six of his last 10 starts amongst the Georgia pines.

If he can find a way to put the various pressures to one side and concentrate on every single shot individually, he undoubtedly has the talent to win.

And it would arguably be the most satisfying result the patrons have seen since Tiger Woods raised his arms aloft on the 18th green on Sunday back in 2019.