‘A big weight off my shoulders’ - Relaxed Rory McIlroy enchants the Augusta masses

This is a man entirely at ease. Does that mean he is likely to soar or stumble on Thursday? Hard to say. The only certainty is that it’s different. He is different.

Rory McIlroy looks on while playing the fourth hole during a practice round prior to the 2026 Masters Tournament. Pic: Hector Vivas/Getty Images

If Augusta commands appreciation, its champion is currently basking in it. On Tuesday, the entire club was beating to the rhythm of the Rory drum.

He was first out on the course for his practice round and blitzed through the front nine with the purpose of a man wanting to get his work banked early. Understandable, given it’s a busy day. Later that evening, it is his Champions Dinner with the other guardians of the green jacket.