Rory McIlroy is already one of many recreation’s greats. He’s a four-time main champion, has received 24 PGA Tour tournaments and three FedEx Cup titles (probably the most in PGA Tour historical past). But, there may be nonetheless a obtrusive gap on his resume, and that’s a Inexperienced Jacket.

The Masters at Augusta Nationwide is the lone main title McIlroy is but to beat.

The 34-year-old McIlroy lately joined the English podcast Stick with Soccer the place he detailed his struggles there.

“This 12 months… I used to be on the primary inexperienced the second morning. I noticed Brooks Koepka was developing the eighth… I noticed that he had already acquired to 10-under. I’m even par. I’m there considering ‘jeez, I’m 10 behind already. I’ve to begin urgent,’” McIlroy admitted.

“The worst factor I did that day was have a look at the leaderboard… The successful rating ended up being 10-under, so I believed I wanted to get to 10-under within the house of 18 or 27 holes once I may have stated, ‘It’s okay, sit back. Play your regular recreation and see the place you might be at.’”

The 2023 Masters is hardly the one time McIlroy missed a chance to hitch the unique listing of profession Grand Slam winners.

He has come shut a variety of instances, together with 2011 when he held a four-shot lead going into Sunday. A last spherical 80 sadly despatched the Irishman to a T15 end as Charl Scwartzel took house the trophy.

There have been a variety of different shut calls, together with a second place end in 2022.

Photograph by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Pictures

Podcast host Paddy McGuinness applauded the Irishman for accepting that “vulnerability” on the Masters.

“I believe at Augusta for me, I generally do issues I wouldn’t usually do due to what it’s, the strain, that kind of stuff,” McIlroy retorted.

Not solely has he did not win the Masters, however it has been 10 years since his final main victory of any variety. The 2014 PGA Championship was his final main title.

McIlroy joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the one gamers below the age of 25 to win 4 majors. It appeared as if he may climb onto the Mount Rushmore of golfers. However that narrative has clearly modified during the last decade.

The previous world primary is absolutely assured in his capability, however wants to enhance his psychological method at Augusta.

“I do know I can win. I do know I can beat all these guys. So the one individual stopping me from doing that’s myself, my ideas… That’s why Tiger was so good. He was so robust mentally, he was a lot mentally higher than anybody else.”

McIlroy is one hundred pc spot on with that evaluation.

Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor at SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms.