Rory McIlroy cruised to his second straight Masters title this weekend, becoming just the fourth golfer in the last 40 years to hold the lead after every round.
But the win was not without controversy, with some taking aim at McIlroy for taking a pause from the PGA Tour in order to focus on playing Augusta — an advantage that he could seize due to his status as last year’s champion and one not available to most other golfers.
McIlroy responded to the rising controversy, saying he was not alone in the approach.
Rory McIlroy Defends Unique Approach to Masters
McIlroy told reporters this week that he spent several days over recent weeks playing at Augusta, taking a private jet from his home in Florida to the famed course in Georgia. This led to some pushback, with some claiming it was unfair for him to have so much time to get familiar with the course.
McIlroy acknowledged the advantage, saying he played at Augusta so often that it felt like it had become his home course.
“I joked last week and going into this week, this place feels like my home course. I haven’t played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks really,” McIlroy said, via The Mirror. “I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss.
“I’m pretty comfortable with all the shots around the greens. I think it’s a good blueprint. I’m not going to take three weeks off before every major, but to get to the major venues early, do your preparation, play and not just play and look at things.”
But McIlroy is not the only golfer to take advantage of the rare access to Augusta. He told reporters that past champion Jack Nicklaus did the same thing during his career.
“Actually play. Go out there with one ball, shoot a score and try to do it that way,” McIlroy said. “I talked to Jack Nicklaus over the years about how he prepared for majors and he would go the week before.”
Rory McIlroy Felt Loose After 2025 Masters Win
McIlroy said he had some other advantages going into this weekend’s tournament, saying he felt free after finally breaking through to win the Masters last year. McIlroy won in a thriller, defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death tiebreaker.
McIlroy said he felt noticeably looser this time around, and it showed in his results. His six-stroke lead after 36 holes was the largest in the history of the Masters, and he was able to withstand a late surge from Cameron Young to retake the lead on Sunday.
âThereâs still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about really where it goes,â McIlroy said. âBut I think itâs easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my green jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.â
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