Rory McIlroy has pledged to get into “better shape” for the remaining majors of 2024 after suffering more Masters disappointment, finishing 15 shots behind champion Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National.
McIlroy was never close to ending his 10-year major drought in Georgia, struggling to match the leaders’ pace in blustery conditions.
He shot rounds of 71, 77, 71 and 73 on a disappointing weekend to finish four over for the tournament, giving him a share of 22nd place, having missed the cut at two of the previous three editions.
Read our other sports news stories here:
The Masters 2024: Emotional Scheffler says priorities will change after second title
Man Utd results ‘not enough’ to finish in Premier League’s top four, says Ten Hag
Grand National Winner I Am Maximus “unbelievable”, says jockey Paul Townend
The world number two believes the conditions had a part to play in his underwhelming weekend but admitted he had not been in the best form entering the tournament.
“I guess it’s just more of the same of what I’ve shown this year,” he said. “It’s not as if I’ve had a down week in comparison to how I’ve been playing.
“I felt like my game was okay, I managed it pretty well. Obviously Friday was a really tough day and losing five shots put me in a pretty difficult position going into the weekend.
“The conditions were pretty tough. The greens were crusty and firm and hard to get the ball super close, and hard to make a tonne of birdies, so once you get seven or eight back going into the weekend here it’s hard to make up that ground.”
Goodnight from Augusta National.
The 2025 Masters begins Thursday, April 10. #themasters pic.twitter.com/TVvdD12lsQ
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 15, 2024
The second major of the year – the PGA Championship in Louisville – begins on May 16, with the U.S. Open and The Open following in the next two months.
McIlroy pledged to improve for those tournaments, adding: “I think it’s just a matter of me getting my game in a bit better shape going towards the rest of the season.
“I need to take a little time and reflect on this week and what I did well and didn’t do so well, and try to make a plan for the next few months, especially from here to the end of July through major season.
“They’re obviously going to come thick and fast from here so I’ll hopefully get myself in a bit better form for those last three.”
On his way to victory at the 88th Masters Tournament, Scottie Scheffler put on a virtuoso performance. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ehon8vH8vM
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 15, 2024
