Rory McIlroy’s quest for that elusive green jacket faces some pretty tough odds as he heads into his 17th Masters tournament. But two guys who’ve been there and done that might just have the secret sauce he needs.
Here’s a wild stat: Only one player has ever won their first Masters after 15 tries. That was Sergio Garcia, who finally broke through on attempt number 19.
Phil Mickelson got his first win at Augusta on try number 12 – which is actually pretty rare. Most Masters champs (49 out of 56) grabbed their first win within their first 11 tournaments.
But there’s hope for Rory. He’s finished in the top 10 seven times at Augusta National, matching Mickelson’s record before his breakthrough win.
So what’s the key to finally getting it done? Garcia and Mickelson both point to something that might surprise you: keeping your cool.
“You’ve got to enjoy the week as much as possible,” Garcia says. “Sometimes we get too wrapped up in our heads as competitors. I know I did – getting frustrated, feeling like the course owed me something.”
Mickelson noticed this same thing when Garcia won his green jacket after that epic playoff with Justin Rose. “He managed his emotions so much better that year,” Phil says. “The bad breaks didn’t get to him like they used to.”
For Mickelson himself, it was all about learning to play smart, especially on the tricky 15th hole.
“I kept trying to make heroic 4s and ending up with 6s or 7s,” he admits. “When I finally accepted that a 5 was okay there and tried to win it elsewhere on the course – that’s when I broke through.”
McIlroy will face enormous pressure again this year. The career Grand Slam is on the line, and it’s been a decade since his last major win.
But Mickelson thinks Rory’s got what it takes.
“He’s amazing at handling pressure,” Phil says. “Plus, the way he drives the ball – so long and straight – gives him a huge advantage at Augusta. He just needs to execute when it matters most.”
The big question now: Can Rory finally put all the pieces together and join golf’s most exclusive club?
