Rory McIlroy shook off a potentially devastating first-round flop to fire a second-round 66 and position himself for a weekend run at a first Masters title on Friday.
“I’ve been really proud of how resilient I’ve been the whole way throughout my career, and I think today was just another example of that,” said the Northern Ireland star, who could become just the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam with a victory at Augusta National on Sunday.
Seven off the lead to start the day, he was just two off the pace when he walked off the course on Friday, an especially satisfying turnaround a day after he stumbled home with double bogeys at 15 and 17.
“You know, I hit two good shots into 15 yesterday, and I felt like I hit a pretty good chip shot,” McIlroy said of the chip that raced past the hole and into the water.
“I was really surprised at not so much the speed … it was just more the first bounce was so firm.
“I was obviously surprised that I had done that. And I forgot that I could try to play it again. I went straight to the drop zone, and then afterwards, I was thinking, like, ‘Oh, I could have tried to just chip that again.’
“I think that’s the thing. I was so frustrated last night because I played so well, and you can make these big numbers from absolutely nowhere on this golf course, just like the most benign position.”
McIlroy said it was a good reminder that “you just have to have your wits about you on every single golf shot.”
He was pleased to birdie the same hole on Friday, especially after building momentum with a spectacular eagle at the 13th — where he landed his approach from under the trees nine feet from the pin and made the putt.
But McIlroy said he hadn’t brooded about the late mistakes, instead making time to put daughter Poppy to bed on Thursday before getting together with sports psychologist Bob Rotella on Friday morning.
“I feel like I just did a good job of resetting,” McIlroy said.
It’s a crucial skill in championship golf, which, McIlroy said, “can be volatile.”
“The conditions can be tough, and the momentum can start to go the wrong way on you.”
With that in mind, McIlroy said it was far too early to consider his chances of joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in completing a career Grand Slam.
“It’s only halfway,” he said. “We’ve got 36 holes to go on a very, very tough course and all I’m focused on is trying to hit a good tee shot in the fairway on the first hole tomorrow.”
