Remember me
Evin Priest
April 8, 2026 — 11:20am
SaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Save this article for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.
Got itAAA
Augusta, Georgia: Rory McIlroy’s emotional journey to golfing immortality was littered with a decade of heartbreaks and humiliation, but the Masters champion revealed there was one final awkward interaction in the lead-up to his victory at Augusta National last year.
On the Tuesday night before his maiden Masters triumph, McIlroy and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose were invited by several Augusta National members to dinner in the clubhouse.
Rory McIlroy practices at Augusta this week ahead of the 2026 US Masters.APWhen McIlroy drove up Magnolia Lane, he remembered the annual champion’s dinner was happening in a separate area of the famed club.
“The champions were having their cocktails out on the balcony; I’m like, ‘I don’t want to valet [and] get out, [because] they’re going to see me, and it’s going to be weird’,” said McIlroy, who at the time owned a runner-up among seven top 10s at the Masters.
“I had this really awkward moment. Thankfully, that was the last time that I needed to do that.”
As fate would have it, the 2025 Masters would culminate with McIlroy in a sudden-death playoff against Rose. By making birdie to win the green jacket, the Northern Irishman – who already boasted a US Open, British Open and two PGA Championships – became the sixth winner of the career grand slam in golf’s long history.
Rory McIlroy poses with the Masters trophy after winning in 2025.Getty ImagesThroughout the year, McIlroy took the green jacket on a worldwide tour that included a stunning victory at the Irish Open, a career debut in India and a return to the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
“It’s been an amazing 12 months bringing this thing all around the world, [seeing] the excitement on people’s faces when they see it, that I still get putting it on,” the 29-time PGA Tour winner said.
His green jacket was hard-earned. Golf’s heir apparent to Tiger Woods, McIlroy’s 2014 British Open win at Royal Liverpool left the Masters as the missing piece of his slam puzzle. Reporters’ questions at Augusta were both fair and relentless for 10 years.
Related Article
It’s why McIlroy clapped back in good spirits in his winning Masters press conference last year: “What are we all going to talk about next year?”
On Tuesday, reporters reminded the 36-year-old of that remark. “I think the story as it relates to me is what do I do from now onwards? What motivates me?” McIlroy said.
“Honestly, I felt like the career grand slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realised it wasn’t the destination. There’s still a lot that I want to do.
“It is so nice to walk around [Augusta] and not have that hanging over me, like it feels that it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
The question is whether that weightless feeling can trigger a free-flowing McIlroy, whose soaring right-to-left shot shape with the driver and sky-high iron shots were seemingly created in a lab for Augusta National’s dogleg tee shots and heavily contoured greens.
Rory McIlroy during a practice round at Augusta this week.APMaking his 18th Masters appearance, McIlroy believes he’s now playing with house money.
“For the past 17 years, I just could not wait for the tournament to start, and this year I wouldn’t care if the tournament never started,” the world No.2 said. “I feel so much more relaxed [but] it doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and try to win the tournament.”
McIlroy feels Augusta is his best chance at a sixth major victory, given it’s the only one of the four championships to return to the same golf course. “I feel I’ve got another 10 good shots at it,” he said.
“Not that I don’t at the other majors, but everything here is a little more predictable.”
McIlroy was also preparing to host the Tuesday champion’s dinner in front of golf greats, including Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Nick Faldo. Aside from a customary speech, McIlroy also had to set the menu.
Social media criticised his menu as too universal and omnivorous, with peach and ricotta flatbread, grilled elk sliders, tuna carpaccio, wagyu filet mignon and salmon among the dishes.
“People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish?’ And I said, ‘Because I want to enjoy the dinner as well,’” McIlroy said with a laugh. “I tried to do a few things that I thought everyone would eat.”
Related Article
McIlroy’s results in 2026 have left a lot to be desired, apart from top three results at the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational and the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational. It’s no cause for concern; Augusta has a knack for inspiring a group of usual suspects to contend every year, from champions like Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Scottie Scheffler to regular contenders Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy has been practising diligently in his Florida base having not teed up since last month’s Players Championship.
“I feel comfortable on the golf course, [and] with my game,” McIlroy said. “It’s been a good three weeks at home getting ready physically and mentally … for everything that this week is going to throw at me.”
At least the Masters can no longer throw a party McIlroy isn’t invited to.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
SaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
From our partners