Rory McIlroy has altered his preparation for his eighth attempt to complete the career grand slam and could not be happier with the difference in his game from 12 months ago.
McIlroy missed the cut in the Masters last year for just the second time in his career, but started 2022 with four straight top-15 places.
After finishing 33rd in a weather- affected Players Championship, he opted to skip the WGC Match Play before contesting this week’s Valero Texas open.
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“It’s chalk and cheese,” McIlroy said of his form now compared to last year.
“It’s way different. I’m way more comfortable with my game, I’m happy with where everything is. Everything seems like it’s a lot more settled.”
Since winning the open Championship in 2014 to secure the third leg of the career grand slam, McIlroy has had at least one week off before the Masters but this year he will compete at TPC San Antonio following a scouting trip to Augusta.
“I haven’t really enjoyed the format of the Match Play the last couple of years and I just wanted to mix it up and I still wanted to feel like I was sharp going into Augusta,” McIlroy said.
“I wanted my last competitive start before Augusta to be a strokeplay event instead of match play. It’s two completely different mindsets, so that was part of the reason, too.
“I was at Augusta the last couple of days and I just went there on my own. I didn’t go with any members, I didn’t stay on property. I just wanted to come and see the golf course.”
McIlroy believes it would be “phenomenal” if Tiger Woods can contest next week’s Masters.
The 15-time major winner has not competed in a top-level event since suffering severe injuries in a single- vehicle car accident last February and feared at one point that his right leg would have to be amputated but he played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie in December and had a practice round with Charlie and Justin Thomas at Augusta National on Tuesday.
“I think for golf and for the Masters tournament and for everyone, to have Tiger there would be phenomenal,” McIlroy said.
“The game of golf is heightened whenever he’s there. It would be awesome.
“He was there yesterday and he’s trying to see what he can do.”
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