Rory McIlroy praised his own major resilience and support of sports psychologist Bob Roterra after returning to the competition for a career grand slam at the Masters.
McIlroy arrived at Augusta National to score his first major since 2014, getting off to a dream start on the first day, playing his first 14 holes at 4 under, and playing two double bogeys on three holes stretches later in the round.
World No 2 did not speak to the media after Level Par 72 left seven strokes behind early leader Justin Rose.
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McIlroy recalls posting his second round 66 from the finishing touches of a nightmare back to the opening round
McIlroy started two rounds of patients when he reached the turn at 35. I then fired three birdies with Eagle on the next six holes, carded a bogeyless 66, heading for the two-stroke behind Half Wader Rose over the weekend.
“Overall, I think I’m proud of myself for how I responded today after last night’s finish,” McIlroy said. I had to remember that I played really good golf yesterday.
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McIlroy made an eagle on par 5’s 13th hole, closing the lead even further.
“I wasn’t going to direct two bad holes to the story for the rest of the week.
“When I left my property, I tried to leave what happened here. I rushed to the house to see (daughter) poppy before going to bed and felt like I did a good job of resetting.
“I was just trying to be really patient with Bob Roterra (sports psychologist) about not pushing too quickly too hard, and it paid off with a little stretch in the middle of the round.
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McIlroy began his second nine innings in the second round.
“I don’t think I’ve proved anything. I just backed up the beliefs I have in myself, if any, and the belief that I’m just as resilient as the others here.”
McIlroy’s round unraveled when he double bogeyed on the 15th’s par 5 and pushed the slope into a water hazard on his third shot, but he played a better three-stroke with a two-round birdie.
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McIlroy was forced to wait three minutes to chip on hole 15 on Thursday due to slow play from his playing partner Akshay Bhatia.
“Last night I was so frustrated because I played so well. On this golf course, you can make these big numbers from absolutely anywhere, like the most benign positions,” added McIlroy.
“Last night, it was a good reminder last night that you have to have your wisdom about it with every golf shot, and today when the second shot was in the air, it went a bit of touch.
Image: McIlroy makes his 17th appearance in the Masters
“Even if the ball had a kind of finishing finish on the slope, I was thinking of running to mark it not running down the hill. It was good to have a 4 out there to maintain the momentum that built up those previous holes.”
Have you got back on track or something to do?
McIlroy joined Nick Faldo (1990) and Tiger Woods (2005) and remains in the hunt as the only player to return after the opening day at Augusta National to win the Green Jacket, but after the first round, only one of the last 19 Masters winners was four or more shots from the lead.
“It’s great,” Faldo told Sky Sports. “I felt he basically went back to zero and started again to continue his doubles yesterday and then two people.
“He looked great. The reaction when something goes wrong is everything. If you start to see the trouble, you have to deal with the next hole.
“He’s been here enough. He knows the dangerous green section. Try to become a hero, land half the numbers and give him half the chance. He looks like he can do that this time.”
Image: McIlroy’s major record since the 2014 PGA Championship victory
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley commented on Sky Sports, adding: [McIlroy] He must have left that golf course yesterday and was in devastation. He played brilliantly, leaving four or five shots behind him. Especially when I see someone like Scotty Schaeffler getting off to such a fast start.
“He recalibrated last night and reset himself, but I think he was lucky today. A lot of things are his way and I think he could have four or five shots today.
Image: McIlroy heads for the weekend at Augusta National’s 6-under
“He was pretty much out since then yesterday – he was certainly mentally at the end of that round. He came back today with a good score and placed himself where he needed to go on the weekend.
“His scoring average in the first two rounds is two shots higher than on the weekend. Now he’s here on the weekend. Can he go? That’s what I wonder.”
When does Masters live in Sky Sports?
Sky Sports Golf presents record time coverage from the 2025 contest. The new addition will show you a live Masters buildup show starting at 3pm on the weekend ahead of full coverage starting at 5pm, covering all the action until play is over.
Sky Sports+ on Sky Q and Sky Glass offer plenty of bonus feeds and allow players to follow the progress of different parts of Augusta’s famous layout, including Amen Corner and more.
Who will win the Master? Watch the live show on Sky Sports throughout the week. The third round of live coverage begins with a master buildup starting at 3pm, prior to full coverage starting at 5pm. Get Sky Sports and Streams without a contract.
