Another week in Augusta, Georgia, and another disappointing drive down Magnolia Lane for Rory McIlroy.
After multiple scouting trips, a putter change to embrace more feel and a shorter driver shaft to prioritize the short grass, the 33-year-old Northern Irishman is headed home after rounds of 72-77.
The 2023 Masters was supposed to be different.
McIlroy entered the week in great form, finishing third at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, a week that included a win over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. He also came close at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, missing a putt on the 72nd hole to potentially force a playoff with Kurt Kitayama.
His final round in 2022 — a bogey-free 8-under 64 — was to serve as a springboard into a historical week.
“I felt last year that I maybe shed some of that scar tissue and felt like I sort of made breakthroughs,” McIlroy said early in the week. “I’m feeling as sort of relaxed as I ever have coming in here just in terms of I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just about as well as anyone.”
Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta
So what went wrong?
On Thursday, it was a roller coaster. A great par save on No. 1 and a birdie at No. 2 filled golf fans around the world with promise. McIlroy immediately gave the birdie back on the short par-4 third and then made double-bogey six at No. 7. He’d trade circles for squares all the way into the clubhouse for an opening round 72.
Despite the even-par effort, he felt close.
“I didn’t feel like I was too far away today. I made five birdies but just a couple of too many mistakes on the card.”
Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the second green during the first round of The Masters golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Network
Unfortunately, mistakes reared their ugly head once again on Day 2.
Through seven holes McIlroy was 4 over, and all of a sudden his pursuit for a green jacket turned into one for a weekend tee time.
After a water ball on 11, all hope was seemingly lost.
However, an easy birdie at the par-5 13th put him just two shots off the projected cut line. Then, at the 15th, McIlroy stripped a long iron to five feet.
His new Scotty Cameron failed him, and McIlroy had to settle for birdie.
Now at 3 over, the four-time major champion needed to play the final three holes even par to have any hope of making the weekend.
After a fantastic chip shot from behind the 16th green, McIlroy failed…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…