McIlroy Reveals His Masters Sunday Mental Battle: “Make Bryson Invisible”
Rory McIlroy’s biggest challenge to winning a green jacket last April wasn’t the course or the pressure—it was being paired with Bryson DeChambeau in the final round.
“I felt like that was going to be the toughest thing I would have to deal with that day was Bryson himself,” McIlroy said, “and just the way we’re polar opposites with how we approach the game. I felt like he was going to have a portion of the crowd, and I was going to have a portion of the crowd, and just having to deal with that a little bit.”
McIlroy recalled a pivotal conversation with his sports psychologist, Dr. Bob Rotella, near Augusta National’s caddie area before warming up for the final round.
“How you feeling today?” Rotella asked.
McIlroy replied, “I’m feeling good. I’m feeling good about my stuff. … The one thing that I’m uneasy about is just the pairing.”
Rotella’s advice was simple: “Well, just make him invisible.”
“And I said, ‘Well, what do you mean?’ And he goes, ‘Just don’t engage, don’t look at him, just get lost in your own little world. You’ve got Harry beside you, like have him be your companion and just get lost in that world.’ And that’s what I tried to do.”
The strategy apparently worked—perhaps too well. DeChambeau, who led by a shot through two holes before shooting 75 and tying for fifth, noted the silence between them after the round.
“Didn’t talk to me once all day,” DeChambeau told reporters as McIlroy was preparing for a playoff with Justin Rose. “He was just like, just being focused, I guess. It’s not me, though.”
But McIlroy’s mental approach only solved one problem. “I felt like that was the biggest impediment between me and winning the Masters that day,” he continued, “and then once it was apparent that that wasn’t going to be the biggest impediment, then I made myself the biggest impediment.”
Despite the outcome, McIlroy remains at peace with his performance. “There’s not one thing about that day that I would want back.”
McIlroy shared these insights during a recent appearance with hosts Brendan Porath, Andy Johnson, Kevin Van Valkenburg and producer P.J. Clark. He also revealed some special mementos he’s received since capturing his first green jacket and completing the career grand slam.
One treasure was a handwritten note from Jack Nicklaus placed in his new Champion’s Room locker. McIlroy flew directly from the Australia Open last week to spend a couple days at Augusta National.
The other was an early Christmas gift from his caddie, Harry Diamond: An Augusta National scorecard signed by the other five members of the career-slam club.
“He brought me this with a Sharpie and said, ‘Do you want to sign it?'” McIlroy said. “And I said, ‘Absolutely not. I just hope I don’t have to get Scottie to sign it next year.'”
