Rory McIlroy feeling 'nothing but positive vibes' as year's second major looms
Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the third tee during the Pro Am event prior to the Truist Championship. Pic: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Nearly a month on from his Masters victory, Rory McIlroy is happy the noise has died down. It’s not the celebrations he’s glad are over but the obligations of the Masters champion.
“I’m excited to get back to being a golfer,” he said ahead of defending his title at the Truist Championship - previously known as the Wells Fargo Championship - in Philadelphia. “It’s nice to get back into the routine again and get back to what I know how to do.”
In New Orleans a fortnight ago, he and Shane Lowry played the Zurich Classic, a tournament they won as a team in 2024. It was a “fun week”. He could lean on Lowry and relax his preparations. They finished tied for 12th, six shots behind winners Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. Before that, he spent time back in Belfast with his family.
“With my dad, like I never get that emotional with my dad. It was great. It was great to see him. Then when I saw my mom… we were both a mess for a few minutes.
“Look, as an only child, I have a bond. I’m lucky, and I know a lot of people feel this, that they have a close bond with their parents, but I think as time goes on and I’m getting a little older, I realise that they’re not going to be around forever. It means even more that they were still around to be able to see me complete the slam and fulfil those dreams.”
Last week, McIlroy had his business face back on. Long-time coach Michael Bannon was in town.
“We practiced for three days - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - but then I was up in New York for three days doing a few bits and pieces,” he said.
“So when I got back home and sort of got back more into my real routine Sunday, Monday, coming up here, it feels more… you know, that period is sort of behind me, and I’m looking forward to the next few months.”
McIlroy has four Truist Championship victories, all at Quail Hollow, where next week’s PGA Championship – the second major of the year – will be played. He will go into the tournament for the first time in years without questions about his major drought, and the career Grand Slam, hanging over him.
“I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure, and I’m also going back to a venue that I love. It’s nothing but positive vibes going in there next week with what happened a few weeks ago and then with my history there and how well I’ve played at Quail.
“Yeah, it probably will feel a little bit different. I probably won’t be quite as on edge as I have been for the last few years when I’ve been at major championships. I’ll probably be a little bit better to be around for my family, and I’ll be a little more relaxed. I think overall it will be a good thing.”
Those questions about the Grand Slam will now be aimed at Jordan Spieth.
“You have to go back to the same tournament every year for Jordan, but not the same golf course,” said McIlroy.
“It’s a bit of a different proposition for him rather than me having to go back to the same venue every year and trying to, I guess, do that as well.
“As much as you try to get yourself in the right frame of mind to just try to win the golf tournament and then let everything else happen, it’s in there. Consciously or subconsciously, you feel that.
“I said this to people, the worst I felt on Sunday at Augusta was probably when I holed the birdie putt on 10 to go 4 ahead because I’m like, oh, I really can’t mess this up now. There’s that pressure.
“You know that you’re not just trying to win another tournament, you’re trying to become part of history, and that has a certain weight to it. I’ve certainly felt that at Augusta over the years. I’m sure Jordan has felt that a bit going into each PGA that he’s had a chance to do the same thing.”
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