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SPORTSWednesday 23 March 2016
McIlroy’s last chance for a win before the Masters
DOUG FERGUSON Defending champion Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches into the Masters. I didn’t win attest to that. He missed
AP Golf Writer his shot on the sixth hole during practice for the Dell Match Play but I was very comfortable two straight cuts and didn’t
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Championship golf tournament at Austin County Club, Tuesday, that everything was in the break par at either tourna-
Masters is two weeks away, March 22, 2016, in Austin, Texas. right place. Then, prepara- ment, and then won the
and all the best players are tion was very good. I had a Masters in 2009. Anyone
winning. Associated Press good idea of what I need- see that coming?
Except for one. ed to do to get the stars to Tiger Woods won at least
“I’d love to win before Au- But only two other Masters contended before he won align in Augusta. You could one time before all four of
gusta,” Rory McIlroy said. champions over the last in 2013. This year, he al- see it happening in the his Masters victories. That’s
“And this is my last chance 10 years — Bubba Watson ready has won twice. practice rounds there, and never a good measure be-
to do that.” in 2012 (Riviera) and Charl “Winning is very important,” it was just a matter of stay- cause Woods was rarely
He is the defending cham- Schwartzel in 2011 (Joburg Scott said. “It’s huge for the ing calm and executing. ever playing anything but
pion at the Dell Match Open) won before Augus- confidence. I think in ‘13, I And I guess that’s what it’s great.
Play, which any other week ta. was just very content with all about when you’re on Jack Nicklaus didn’t win
would seem to be in his fa- Adam Scott never seriously where my game was going form.” in six tries before the 1965
vor. The nature of that vic- McIlroy surely is paying at- Masters, which he won by
tory — not to mention it was tention to what’s going on nine shots over Gary Player
at Harding Park in San Fran- around him. and Arnold Palmer. It’s safe
cisco and not Austin Coun- Spieth opened the year to say he was playing well,
try Club — would explain with an eight-shot victory in however. In those six tour-
that’s not the case. Kapalua in which became naments, his worst finish
McIlroy had to birdie his last only the second player in was a tie for eighth in Phoe-
three holes to force over- PGA Tour history to reach nix. The next year, Nicklaus
time with Billy Horschel and 30-under par in a 72-hole didn’t win any of his four
beat him in 20 holes. Paul event. Two weeks later, pre-Masters starts and then
Casey had a birdie putt to Rickie Fowler won in Abu became the first player to
beat him in the quarterfi- Dhabi against a field that win back-to-back at Au-
nals, missed, and McIlroy included Spieth, McIlroy gusta.
won in 22 holes. He had and Henrik Stenson.
to finish birdie-birdie-eagle Watson won at Riviera and McIlroy only cares about
against Jim Furyk to reach finished one shot behind at playing well, and he at
the finals. Doral. And then last week, least has that going for him.
Winning has as much to do Jason Day emerged from a He lost a three-shot lead
with good fortune as good four-man race at Bay Hill by in the final round at Doral
form. coming up with two clutch by playing for pars until he
Whether it matters that Mc- shots at the end to win the found it difficult to make
Ilroy wins the first major of Arnold Palmer Invitational birdies. He looked great at
the year is up for debate. and move past McIlroy to Bay Hill except for those six
Jordan Spieth last year won No. 2 in the world. double bogeys, the most
the Valspar Championship Your play, Rory. he has ever made in a PGA
in a playoff, was runner-up “Everyone is running in Tour event. He also tied for
in his next two events and good form,” McIlroy said. third in Abu Dhabi.
went wire-to-wire to win a “And they’re all good “I’m probably not quite
green jacket. Phil Mickelson champions — a few of where they are, and I
won the BellSouth Classic them are Masters cham- haven’t had the confi-
by 13 shots a week before pions. Everyone is playing dence of getting a win this
he won the Masters in 2006. well, and that’s really what year,” McIlroy said. “But I
you want to do. You want feel like it’s close. And this
your game rounding into would obviously be a great
form and play to the best week to get that win, or
of your abilities this time of at least get close to that
year.” win, if I can get a few re-
McIlroy doesn’t not appear ally good matches under
to be pressing, nor should my belt and progress to the
be. weekend and play some
It helps to be playing well, good golf. I feel that’s all I
though it’s not manda- need confidencewise go-
tory. Angel Cabrera can ing into Augusta.”q
