Rory McIlroy fired himself back into contention at The Masters this week, with a sensational second round of six-under par 66 around Augusta National.
Shane Lowry impressed at The Masters today as well, and is currently sitting just one shot behind Rory McIlroy after firing a 68 around Augusta National.
After his horror finish over the final four holes on Thursday, Rich Beem predicted that Rory McIlroy was still very much in the race to win The Masters.
And Beem has been proven right.
Rory really turned it on from the 10th hole onwards on Friday.
He showed great mental fortitude to bounce back from what would have been such a bitterly disappointing pill to swallow on Thursday night.
Shane Lowry on what he noticed about Rory McIlroy before second round at The Masters
Lowry is one of McIlroy’s best friends off the course.
So it’s no surprise that the two had breakfast together on Friday morning before their second rounds began.
When speaking to the press after his fine 68 on Friday, Lowry lifted the lid on the mood that McIlroy was in before he teed of in his second round.
“Yeah, I’m happy for him. I ate breakfast with him this morning. We talked about what he did yesterday and he was quite frustrated. I’m sure last night was tough for him.
“But for both of us, there’s a lot of golf to be played this weekend yet, and he knew that, and what a run he made on the back nine. That’s what this golf course can throw up if you play well.
Lowry was then asked if Rory was in a good place on Friday morning:
“Yeah, he’s been in a great place all year, for a while now. Yeah.
“Yeah, I mean, look, he had a six-footer to go 5-under on 14, and an hour later he’s on level par, signing for level par. I can imagine that’s pretty frustrating. It’s such a quick turnaround that it can help you in a way that you need to just get on with it and get out there today and get after it.
But yeah, we both played our way into the tournament nicely.”
Jack Nicklaus already told Rory McIlroy what he needs to do to win The Masters
Jack Nicklaus obviously knows what it takes to win around Augusta National – he has six green jackets to his name after all.
Back in 2016, Nicklaus made it very simple when asked what Rory needed to do to be triumphant at The Masters:
“He hits the ball so long and he drives the ball pretty darn straight. Rory’s thing with Augusta is he has to make putts. If you don’t make putts here you can’t win. These are the most difficult set of greens on Tour.”
Like Shane Lowry highlighted, Rory McIlroy definitely has the mentality needed to win The Masters.
Whether or not he putts well enough to finally capture his first green jacket remains to be seen though.
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