As Rory McIlroy prepares for his 17th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta National next week, the question lingers: Why does the Masters consistently bring out “the worst golf” in one of the game’s most talented players?
Is McIlroy simply cursed?
NBC broadcaster Brandel Chamblee didn’t mince words about McIlroy’s relationship with Augusta.
“It is literally his nemesis,” Chamblee stated during a recent conference call. “It brings out the worst golf in Rory annually that we see.”
The statistics support Chamblee’s statement. In 16 Masters appearances, McIlroy has finished in the top ten only seven times, with slow starts consistently undermining his chances. His first-round scores over the past six years tell a troubling story: 71, 72, 73, 76, 75, 73.
“That’s mostly mental,” Chamblee explained. He added that winners at Augusta typically hit about 52 greens in regulation, while McIlroy averages just 42.
Despite these past struggles, McIlroy enters this year’s Masters in exceptional form, having already captured the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship in 2025. This success has made him the betting favorite, though his recent right elbow discomfort has raised some concerns.
Behind the scenes, sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella has been working to reshape McIlroy’s mental approach to prepare for the Masters.
“Basically our goal for the year was to approach all of the majors the same,” Rotella told The Daily Mail. “The challenge is that he’s playing very nice golf at the moment and can you deal with the expectations and stay present?”
“You have to accept there will be mistakes and misses and bad breaks. If you say you love golf, then this is the game you’ve chosen to be in love with. Love all of it,” Rotella said.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes psychological work could pay dividends.
“The big thing I’ve noticed is he’s less hard on himself,” McGinley observed. “He moves on very quickly from a bad shot or a setback. Nobody is better than Scottie Scheffler at leaving a bad shot behind and if you’ve noticed, Rory has spoken a lot about watching what Scheffler has done.”
Beyond the mental game, McIlroy has addressed technical weaknesses, particularly his wedge play within 150 yards. Butch Harmon, who worked with McIlroy before last year’s Masters, noted significant improvement: “He can win when he’s playing really well and now he can win when he’s playing pretty average. He’s upped his ability to do that.”
Phil Mickelson recently said he believes McIlroy has the tools to overcome the Augusta hurdle. “That’s challenging, but he’s done it so many times in his ability to win tournaments. He’s been able to compartmentalize that. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for him.”
McIlroy’s most promising Masters performance came in 2022, when he finished second, three strokes behind Scottie Scheffler after shooting a remarkable final-round 64. However, that result followed a pattern of too little, too late – a frustrating hallmark of his Masters campaigns.
As the Northern Irishman prepares for another attempt to join the exclusive club of career Grand Slam winners, the question remains whether his improved mental approach and technical refinements will finally allow him to overcome what Chamblee calls his “Miranda Priestly” – the imposing, intimidating presence of Augusta National.
The Masters takes place April 10-13, and for McIlroy, it represents another chance to break the “curse” in what has become golf’s most compelling personal riddle.