Resilient Rory McIlroy right back in Masters hunt

AUGUSTA – Rory McIlroy breathed new life into his bid to complete a career Grand Slam at this week’s Masters with a stunning trip through Augusta National’s famed Amen Corner on April 11 that left his opening-round stumble a distant memory.

Seven off the lead to start the day, the Northern Irishman was just two off the pace when he walked off the course after a bogey-free six-under 66 – the best score of the day – following four birdies and an eagle.

With a six-under 138 overall score, he claimed a share of third place alongside Canadian Corey Conners (70), one stroke behind Bryson DeChambeau (68) and two shots back of halfway leader Justin Rose (71).

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (71) is among four players tied for fifth at five under.

McIlroy had arrived at the year’s first Major in top form and a favourite to complete golf’s four Majors on his 11th attempt, but he stumbled home with double-bogeys at 15 and 17 in the opening round.

“Overall just proud of myself with how I responded today after the finish last night,” said the 35-year-old, who is seeking to end an 11-year Major drought.

“I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and you know, I wasn’t going to let two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week.”

The four-time Major champion had just one birdie on his front nine and his hopes of getting back into the Masters mix seemed about to fade when he misread his 18-foot birdie attempt at the par-five eight.

But he roared out of the turn with two consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th, the latter marking the start of Augusta National’s storied three-hole stretch known as Amen Corner.

McIlroy caught a lucky break at the short par-three 12th, where his tee shot bounced into the flowers behind the green before rolling back out. He then parred after putting from off the green to four feet.

Next, he pulled off a remarkable second shot from the pine straw at the par-five 13th, where his approach settled nine feet from a tricky pin position at the back right corner of a raised green guarded by a tributary to Rae’s Creek.

Seizing the opportunity, he rolled in the putt for an eagle and added a birdie at 15 that allowed him to make a much more enjoyable walk into the clubhouse, a day after opting not to speak to media.

“Yeah, I rode my luck a little bit with that second shot, but was nice to take advantage of it,” said McIlroy, who added that it was too early to consider his chances of joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in completing a career Grand Slam.

He said that he did not brood about his first-round mistakes, instead making time to put daughter Poppy to bed on Thursday before a session with sports psychologist Bob Rotella on Friday morning.

Also seeking to end a long drought is leader Rose, whose only previous Major victory came at the 2013 US Open.

The 44-year-old Englishman has finished runner-up twice at Augusta, including a play-off loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017.

While he had come close to wearing the Green Jacket previously, he said that doing it in the twilight of his career would be even sweeter.

“Beggars can’t be choosers, you know. But I would take it right now for sure,” said Rose, after clinging on to his lead, one shot clear of DeChambeau.

“Sometimes if it happens too early in your career, you’ve got a lot to live up to. I think if it happens now, I would enjoy it probably a lot more.”

Former Masters champions Phil Mickelson, Garcia and Dustin Johnson and fellow LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith were among the high-profile players to miss the cut, while two-time winner Bernhard Langer, 67, was unable to extend his 41st and final start at Augusta.

Meanwhile, a historic debut for Singapore’s Hiroshi Tai ended in the second round, when the 23-year-old amateur carded a 77 for a six-over 150 total.

Tai, who had put himself in a good position with an opening 73 to place tied-38th, posted bogeys on Nos. 4, 7 and 11 and a double-bogey on the 15th as he missed the two-over cut. REUTERS, AFP