Rory McIlroy has warned the rest of elite golf he will set further, lofty goals after a successful defence of the Masters. The Northern Irishman prevailed at Augusta National by a shot over Scottie Scheffler, becoming just the fourth golfer to win the tournament back-to-back.
“I just won my sixth major and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body,” McIlroy said. “I don’t want to put a number on it, I don’t want to say a stop on the journey, but it’s just a part of the journey. I still have things I want to achieve but I still want to enjoy it as well.”
The golfer’s parents, Rosie and Gerry, were not at the Masters a year ago but were on hand to see their son retain the Green Jacket. “It’s really cool to have them here,” McIlroy said. “They missed it last year and the first thing I wanted to do was fly home to see them because I obviously wouldn’t be sitting up here if it wasn’t for them.”
Comparing his own state of mind between Masters wins, McIlroy said: “Not as emotional, but just, wow, it’s amazing. I can’t believe I did it again. We lose a lot more in golf than we win. So I think when the winning comes around, you have to celebrate it to the fullest.”
McIlroy’s win arrived in typically dramatic circumstances. He found just 55% of Masters fairways over four rounds and hit only 48 of 72 greens in regulation. The six-shot lead he held after 36 holes had gone after 54. From the final tee on Sunday, where he was two ahead, he hit a wayward drive right and into trees. “I don’t make it easy,” he admitted.
