Rory McIlroy reveals how preparation helped give him control at Augusta
By Carl Markham, Press Association, Augusta
Rory Mcllroy’s strong start to the defence of his Masters title owed as much to his preparation as his prodigious talent after making the most of the opportunities available to him as the holder of a green jacket.
As a champion he is able to play practice rounds, albeit with an Augusta National member, with greater frequency than fellow competitors and he took advantage leading up to the tournament.
He had three weeks off following the Players Championship, where he failed to successfully defend his title, to concentrate on his preparation as – by his own admission – he does not like playing the PGA Tour events in Texas.
It’s time to make a move. There’s one man to catch. It’s Saturday at the Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/CmKmAlBnY0
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2026
That raised a few eyebrows but McIlroy – whose six-shot lead at 12-under was the biggest 36-hole advantage in Masters history – spent the time focusing on practice, which even included day trips from his Florida home via private jet.
“I did a couple of days where I dropped (daughter) Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her or Erica (his wife) probably,” said the world number two, who is seeking to follow Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo in winning back-to-back Masters.
“I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio. Between the Players and starting on Thursday, I’ve been on this golf course, like Monday, Tuesday last week, then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
“I was up here for a day the week before as well. I’ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks and that’s been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens.
“Then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out.”
Watch every one of McIlroy's 65 strokes that helped create the largest 36-hole lead in Tournament history. #themasters pic.twitter.com/oiPxptig7Q
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2026
That last part was useful as over the first two rounds McIlroy was 90th out of 91 in terms of driving accuracy.
Several times he could be seen punching out from under trees in order to be able to hit a wedge close, which indicated a modified approach.
“Becoming a wily old veteran,” was his assessment.
“I remember the final round in 2011, hitting it in that bunker off the tee at the 2nd hole and thinking ‘Oh, this isn’t good. I can’t go for this in two’.
“I was up there Friday and it’s like ‘No, I lay it up to a good number and I’ll have a good chance to make a birdie. There’s so many different ways to skin a cat’.
“I’ve shot 12-under par for the first two rounds. I’ve played well, I’ve hit good shots but it hasn’t all been amazing.
“I’ve certainly hit enough good wedges into those par-fives to build the score that I have. My short game the first two days has been amazing.
“I’ve prepared as well for this Masters as any other that I’ve played and I think all that work around the greens over the last three weeks has certainly paid off over the last two days.”
Poppy and Rory’s movie club 𤩠https://t.co/4mqpPNOnvs pic.twitter.com/YtItmSMey7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 11, 2026
McIlroy planned a relaxing Saturday morning watching Carlos Alcaraz and Yannick Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters and possibly some more of Zootopia 2 with Poppy before getting down to business again.
“The next two days for me is really about focusing on myself,” he said.
“It’s hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there but I know I’ve got a lead so I don’t need to keep checking it all the time so for me (it’s) just staying in my own little world out there.”
