Rory McIlroy working with Rotella shows readiness to end majors drought, says Paul McGinley

McGinley believes we're seeing "an evolution" in McIlroy's game "where he doesn't have to play his best to win".

EVOLUTION OF GAME: Paul McGinley has pinpointed some compelling reasons to back Rory McIlroy to finally land a Green Jacket at this week’s Masters. Pic: AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Paul McGinley has pinpointed some compelling reasons to back Rory McIlroy to finally land a Green Jacket at this week’s Masters.

Speaking before leaving for Augusta National to commentate for host broadcaster NBC on the opening major of the year, which begins on Thursday, the former European Ryder Cup-winning captain said he believed McIlroy has successfully developed his all-around game to the point where he does not have to be at his best to top the leaderboard.

McGinley also pointed to the four-time major winner working with renowned golf psychologist Bob Rotella as further evidence of McIlroy’s readiness to end his 11-year majors drought as he bids for another shot at landing his first Masters title and completing a career grand slam.

McIlroy is in a rich vein of form this season, picking up where he left off when winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last December with two PGA Tour victories already this year, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship.

"I think he'll contend, I think we're seeing an evolution in Rory, even though he's in his mid-30s now,” McGinley said. "We're seeing an evolution in his game where he doesn't have to play his best to win.

"Early in his career, even up to two or three years ago, it had to be vintage Rory for him to win and I think we're seeing a more rounded player. He's able to control his ball flight better, he can control it even if he's quite not feeling it and he can play in wind.

"We saw that at TPC (The Players venue) when he was well down the rankings in ball striking but still win, and normally when Rory wins he's first or second in ball striking. So to be that far down and win shows you a more rounded player.

"He works well with Bob Rotella, his psychologist, now. I'm a big fan of Bob's, I think he's brilliant at what he does, he was the backbone for Padraig's wins in major championships.

"It takes a lot for Rory to trust people and let them into his inner circle and Rotella is in there now and that's a great thing.

"I think he's guided him through what are very choppy, difficult waters because not only is he trying to become only the sixth player in history to win all four major championships, which is a huge achievement in itself, but he's also got the mental baggage of not having won a major for 11 years.

"And for a guy who has dominated pretty much, he's the most dominant player in that period of time whether that's in Europe or in America, in FedExs and TPCs and Memorials, he's won everything.

"What he has done in those 11 years has been phenomenal but the stick that people are beating him with is, 'well, he hasn't won a major, he hasn't got it', which is rubbish.

"But he does bring expectation and baggage with him so that's why Rotella is with him because he can certainly navigate him through that.” McGinley also pointed to relative drops in form for world number three Xander Schauffele and defending champion Scottie Scheffler.

Schauffele’s best PGA Tour finish this season was a tie for 12th at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago, while world number one Scottie Scheffler is winless in 2025 following last year’s triumphant season when the Masters was one of seven titles, also including Olympic gold in Paris.

"What also gives me a little bit of confidence with Rory is that his major competitors are not firing on all cylinders.

"Scottie is slightly off his game, I know he's trending and getting better, but he looks a bit raggy, he doesn't look as controlled as he did last year. Xander Schauffele is the same, he's coming back from injury and not quite on his game. They were unbelievable last year.

“(Collin) Morikawa… I don't know where he's going to be at, does the golf course really suit him? Then you look at the LIV guys, Jon Rahm hasn't won this year and you look at (Brooks) Koepka, you don't know what you're going to get with him, he doesn't really look to be on it. Bryson (DeChambeau) hasn't won for nearly six months.

"So a lot of the guys in the chasing pack are not quite firing but Rory is firing, he's won three of his last seven now, plus a number of top 10s.

"That all gives you comfort but a big thing is the psychological hurdle of a) trying to win a major for the first time in 11 years, which is a huge thing, particularly when you've been the dominant player in that period and b) trying to win the Grand Slam.

“So they're the two big hurdles that he has got to try to navigate through. Maybe the stepping stone is he has to win another major and get that done and dusted before he can then complete the Grand Slam. That could be the pathway, but maybe he's going to do both this week.

"I'm not going to rule him out, I think he's got a great chance, a great, great chance of winning.”