Rory McIlroy improved his score at The Masters 2024 to +3 with a round of 71. As in the first round, the 34-year-old remained one under par at Augusta National. After a 77 on Friday, however, the four-time major winner had already fallen a long way back. Read the interview to find out whether he is happy with his score and whether the golf course was easier to play today because there was less wind.
The Masters 2024: Rory McIlroy on His Score in round 3
Question: Are you happier today?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, obviously conditions were a little easier than yesterday. Still tricky, though. Greens are firm. Some of the hole locations are really tough, especially some of the downwind holes with the pins at the front. Hard to get the ball close, and then you sort of just have to take your chances from 20, 25 feet. But definitely hit the ball better today, gave myself a lot of looks. Missed a few, but shooting something under par was a decent effort.
Question: Did you feel like you got a little bit more momentum going today?
Rory McIlroy: A little bit. It was hard to get any momentum yesterday just because of the conditions. So, yeah, it was nice to see — I think I made three birdies today compared to zero yesterday. So nice to see some red numbers on the card. Yeah, it was a little better.
Question: You crushed that ball off of 9. I don’t know if you’ve seen the video, but it was actually rolling around the people walking across the crossway.
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I haven’t seen it yet. I hit it way further left than I thought I was going to. I thought I was going to catch these trees over here. It was so far downwind that I covered there. Yeah, I certainly didn’t expect the ball to be down there whenever I — I was looking somewhere in the left pinestraw. Just sort of shows the strength of the wind.
Question: We saw you back on the range still after your round last night. Is that still working on the technical things you’re working on?
Rory McIlroy: I just needed to get some rhythm. It was so start/stop yesterday, and I didn’t have any fluid in my golf swing because of that. I just wanted to got and try and find some rhythm last night.
I only hit 10, 15 minutes, but definitely felt better as well. As the wind is coming down you start getting out of sync. It was better to make some normal golf swings and hit some normal shots. Definitely hit it a bit better today. No, I mean, all I can do is come here and try my best. That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others. I’ve just got to keep showing up and try to do the right thing.
Question: When you played with Scottie on those first two days and he’s so unmoved by everything, so unflappable, is that difficult?
Rory McIlroy: No, not really. If anything, it’s good because, to have someone beside you that has a great attitude and sort of does everything the right way, it’s nice to try to feed off that.
Question: What you’re working on with your irons, you’ve seen progress this week to be ready as the summer rolls on with all these other big events coming up?
Rory McIlroy: I think so. I made good progress last week in San Antonio, my strokes gained numbers and approach were good. I thought my — I would say my strokes gained approach numbers today were probably pretty good. So it’s getting better. It’s definitely better than what it was through the Florida swing.
Question: You said you were going to try to be patient. How much has this been a test of patience this week?
Rory McIlroy: A lot. But it’s this tournament and this golf course and especially these conditions. That’s all you can be. You can’t really do anything else. You’ve got to try to have as much acceptance as possible and try to keep hitting good shots and move on.
Question: I think it’s currently 2-under on the par-5s this week. How much frustration you haven’t been able to take advantage of those a bit more?
Rory McIlroy: That’s okay. The par-5s have been playing difficult and into the wind. It’s been hard to go for the greens in two because of the conditions. Yeah, it’s probably not quite what I would have wanted, but it’s probably not too far off what everyone else is playing them in because they have been sort of difficult.
Question: What would a 15 handicap do around here?
Rory McIlroy: It’s hard because a 15 handicap usually doesn’t get the ball in the air far enough for the wind to affect it, but they would have struggled.
Question: What are you hoping to finish off with tomorrow?
Rory McIlroy: Just go out and finish on a positive note. Shoot a good round of golf and move on to Hilton Head next week in a good frame of mind, I guess.
Question: Thoughts on Hilton Head? What went into adding Hilton Head next week to your schedule? You weren’t committed until yesterday?
Rory McIlroy: I think I’m like 50th in the FedExCup. I need to get all the events under my belt as I can.
Question: You look at the top of the leaderboard much and pay attention to it?
Rory McIlroy: A little bit. Obviously Scottie’s got off to a great start. I’m excited to watch it.
Interview via asapsports.com