Rory McIlroy: ‘I Don’t Care About The US Open or The Open’
The four-time major winner has no doubts over which major is the most special 8er
The four-time major winner has no doubts as to which major is the most special
Rory McIlroy: 'I Don't Care About The US Open or The Open'
Rory McIlroy once again had the chance to complete the career grand slam last month at Augusta and came up agonisingly close.
The four-time major winner got within one of Patrick Reed after two holes on Sunday but ultimately faded for a 74.
McIlroy missed a short eagle putt on the 2nd hole and it all went downhill from there, with five bogeys following.
He eventually ended in a tie for fifth place, six back of Patrick Reed.
Since that disappointment, McIlroy revealed that he has been binge-watching TV box sets and reading psychology books.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
He plays his first tournament since Augusta this week at Quail Hollow, where he has won twice, and said in the build up that The Masters is golf's biggest event.
"The Masters has now become the biggest golf tournament in the world and I'm comfortable saying that. I don't care about the US Open or the Open Championship, it is the biggest golf tournament in the world, the most amount of eyeballs, the most amount of hype, everything is at Augusta."
This highlights just how much he wants to win the coveted Green Jacket, considering that he has won both the US Open and The Open.
The 28-year-old is never one to mince his words, but he has never made his desire to win the Masters and his love for the tournament clearer.
"For me it's the most special tournament that we play and it's the one everyone desperately wants to win, but even if I was going for my first major, it's still tough to win."
He spoke of his disappointment from Augusta and how the bad shots have been plaguing him to the point where he's had to go and see daylight.
"It was just the quiet moments when you're staring off into the distance and thinking about a certain shot or a certain putt, so it got to the point where I needed to see a bit of daylight and start to do my normal things," he said.
Expand Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag?
Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag?
See the clubs Rory McIlroy currently has in…
Expand More Images Of Tiger Woods’ New Irons
More Images Of Tiger Woods’ New Irons
More images of Woods' new TW-Phase1 irons
Expand How Justin Thomas Could Become World #1 This Week
How Justin Thomas Could Become World #1 This Week
JT could secure the number one spot this…
"Once I got back into my routine I was fine. I was disappointed because I just didn't give a good account of myself on that final day.
"I got lucky on that Saturday, that 65 was as good as I could have scored.
"I chipped in, there were a couple of balls that hit trees and came back into the fairway, hit it up into the azaleas and got away with it.
"I was sort of holding my game together and on Sunday - under the pressure of chasing Patrick down - it just never clicked for me."
McIlroy tees it up at 12.30pm today in the Wells Fargo Championship alongside Paul Casey and James Hahn.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Treat The Golfer In Your Life This Christmas And Save Big With $700 Savings On Stewart Golf Electric Trolleys
Golf Monthly experts rate these remote control golf trolleys as some of the best available, on offer right now in these brilliant Christmas golf deals
By Paul Brett Published
-
'In Europe, People Go Naked To Beaches All The Time, So I Don’t Really See The Difference’ – Grace Charis On Pushing Golf’s Dress Code Boundaries
Social media sensation Grace Charis takes golf's dress code debate to a new level
By Alison Root Published
-
‘To Say That McIlroy’s Season Was Not A Success Is Wide Of The Mark’
To say it's been a dramatic 2024 for Rory McIlroy is a bit of an understatement, with the four-time Major winner going through multiple highs and lows this year
By Matt Cradock Published
-
From 'Unfinished Business' To A Favourite Course - Why Rory McIlroy Fancies His Major Chances In 2025
Rory McIlroy is confident he can finally end his Major drought in 2025, with a couple of venues giving him extra hope of adding a fifth to his name
By Paul Higham Published
-
Rory McIlroy Details 'The Ones I've Let Get Away' & Life In The Limelight In New Documentary
Rory McIlroy opens up about his big near miss at the US Open and just what it's like being in the spotlight in a new TV documentary
By Paul Higham Published
-
PGA Tour Reveals Player Of The Year And Rookie Of The Year Nominations
Overall, seven players are in line for either the Jack Nicklaus Award or the Arnold Palmer Award, with the winners due to be revealed by the end of the year
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy Posts Heartfelt Message To 'Hero' And 'Inspiration' Rafa Nadal Following Tennis Icon's Retirement
The Spanish tennis player has left the game after 22 Grand Slam victories - and four-time Major winner McIlroy joined in with the messages of congratulations
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Proves Fierce Loyalty To Caddie With Heartfelt Message In Race To Dubai Victory Speech
Addressing Harry Diamond after winning the Race To Dubai, McIlroy thanked his best friend and called any stick he had received this year "unwarranted"
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Tearful Rory McIlroy Reacts To Seve Ballesteros Comparisons After Equalling Spaniard's Order Of Merit Record
In a highly-emotional interview immediately after holing the winning putt at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy was asked about equalling Severiano Ballesteros' European Tour Order of Merit record
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Wins DP World Tour Championship To Clinch Double Victory In Dubai
The World No.3 has landed a sixth Race To Dubai title - capped off by a third DP World Tour Championship victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated