Rory McIlroy gained six suits out of 7 at WCG-Dell Applied sciences Fit Play in promising indicators forward of The Masters; watch the primary primary of the yr, from Augusta Nationwide, continue to exist Sky Sports activities from Thursday April 6 as McIlroy appears to be like to finish occupation Grand Slam
Closing Up to date: 27/03/23 7:59am
Rory McIlroy completed 0.33 on the WCG-Dell Applied sciences International Fit Play in a promising efficiency forward of The Masters in April
Rory McIlroy will quickly start his annual quest to win The Masters at Augusta Nationwide and grow to be the 6th guy in historical past to finish the occupation Grand Slam.
Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Participant, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen are the gamers to have completed that slice of historical past, with McIlroy tipped to sign up for them ever since – and most probably even prior to – claiming The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July 2014.
That good fortune added to his US Open triumph in 2011 and PGA Championship victory a yr later, whilst he scooped a 2d PGA crown in August 2014 for his fourth – and most up-to-date – primary.
Glory at Augusta Nationwide has persevered to elude McIlroy, regardless that. Seven top-10 finishes, together with 5 in a row between 2014 and 2018, however no trophy because the Grand Slam wait is going on.
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The Ulsterman’s easiest outcome was once ultimate yr, the place a really perfect final-round 64 – which integrated a exceptional hole-out from a greenside bunker at the 18th – propelled him into 2d position and 3 pictures in the back of winner Scottie Scheffler.
McIlroy’s purpose over the Easter weekend might be to move one higher at Augusta – and that appears eminently possible with the 33-year-old impressing en path to completing 0.33 on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Fit Play with six wins out of 7.
“There are a ton of positives to remove. If you happen to had advised me I might make it to the Sunday of the Fit Play ultimate week I might have taken that,” mentioned McIlroy, in a while after beating global #1 Scheffler within the third-place play-off.
“I’m possibly going to move up [to Augusta National] for an afternoon and fiddle. I went ultimate week however do not suppose there’s any hurt in going up once more after which it is about follow.
“I do not believe there’s lots to do. I feel my sport is in in point of fact excellent form so simply stay it ticking over, paintings at the pictures I want for Augusta and away we cross.”
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Watch McIlroy’s exceptional 349-yard lift directly to the fairway on the Fit Play in Texas
McIlroy were wayward together with his driving force and funky with the putter whilst lacking the minimize at The Avid gamers two weeks in the past.
He additionally mentioned he sought after to get again to “being purely a golfer” having “sacrificed just a little little bit of time” whilst serving because the unofficial spokesperson within the sport’s combat with the Saudi-backed LIV Golfing Collection.
He was once definitely again to being a golfer on the Fit Play.
What was once other for McIlroy?
Armed with a brand new putter and driving force shaft, McIlroy gained his first 5 suits in Austin, defeating Scott Stallings, Denny McCarthy and Keegan Bradley within the round-robin staff level prior to excelling within the opening two knockout rounds on Saturday as he noticed off Lucas Herbert and Xander Schauffele.
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McIlroy edged Xander Schauffele at the last gap in their quarter-final within the WGC Fit Play
The four-time primary champion carded 9 birdies in a blemish-free around in opposition to Herbert within the ultimate 16, prior to pipping Schauffele at the last gap within the quarter-finals, sinking a 15-foot birdie glance together with his recent putter to win a fit he had by no means up to now led in.
Dame Laura Davies advised Sky Sports activities Golfing: “McIlroy holed a large number of putts underneath drive to stay the ones suits going [at the Match Play]. Rory is the only for me at The Masters.”
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McIlroy, talking after lacking the minimize at The Avid gamers, mentioned he was once ‘able to get again to being a golfer’
McIlroy had additionally reportedly been sizzling with the quick stick right through a tradition around at Augusta in between The Avid gamers and the Fit Play, with rumours swirling that he took simply 19 putts. They had been rumours the arena No 3 selected to not play down.
“Yeah, glance, I had two excellent days,” mentioned McIlroy. “We performed 54 holes in two days, and it was once excellent. I used to be in point of fact pleased with the place my sport was once. It was once excellent to peer that when suffering at The Avid gamers.”
McIlroy seemed poised to make the Fit Play last on Sunday when he was once two up with 3 to play in opposition to Cameron Younger, just for his opponent to due to this fact degree the fit at the 18th after which win it at the first further gap as he transformed a putt from circa 10 ft and McIlroy neglected from identical vary.
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Highlights of McIlroy’s semi-final go out within the WGC Fit Play as Cameron Younger reached the overall
The expectancy getting into Sunday’s semi-finals was once that McIlroy and Scheffler would meet later within the day and so they did – however within the third-place play-off fairly than the overall, with protecting champion Scheffler knocked out within the semi-finals via Sam Burns.
It supposed Scheffler vs McIlroy had rather less driving on it, each when it comes to significance and financial achieve, however the truth the Northern Irishman secured a one-to-one win over Scheffler would nonetheless had been an actual fillip with Augusta in thoughts.
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It could be no wonder if Scheffler and McIlroy had been doing combat once more on Masters Sunday.
Scheffler looking to declare the Inexperienced Jacket for the second one yr in succession and McIlroy for the primary time in his occupation. Scheffler aiming for a 2d primary, McIlroy a 5th and the Grand Slam.
“I feel [Rory] is a greater participant now than he has been the ultimate 10 years, and I feel he is extra provided, from being a greater putter to being higher psychologically,” former Ecu Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley mentioned not too long ago. “I feel he’s a greater golfer than he has been ever heading into The Masters.”
Let the hunt proceed…
Watch The Masters, from Augusta Nationwide, are living this April continue to exist Sky Sports activities. Reside protection from the hole around starts from 2pm on Thursday April 6 on Sky Sports activities Golfing!
