|
 McIlroy, 25, would not predict his chances of reaching Jack
Nicklaus's record 18 majors, or of matching boyhood idol Tiger
Woods's mark of 14, but knows what he needs to do to wear the green
jacket.
"If you look at the previous winners here, they've all played the
par-fives well," four-times major winner McIlroy said on Tuesday.
The Northern Irishman compared his par-five results with 2014
champion Bubba Watson.
"Bubba last year played them at eight under par. I played them at
even par and he beat me by eight shots," noted McIlroy, who is
21-under on par-fives in 22 Masters rounds.
McIlroy said his booming drives actually worked against him.
"Sometimes on par-fives, with my length, I can be a little
over-aggressive," said McIlroy, who hit nine-irons into the 13th and
15th in last year's final round and posted bogey-sixes in failed
attempts to get an eagle.
Winning would complete his set of majors following wins in the U.S.
Open, British Open and PGA Championship -- a feat accomplished only
by Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger
Woods.
He won the last two majors of 2014 to bring his total to four, and
some wonder how high up the ladder he will climb.
But not McIlroy, who takes everything one step at a time and credits
Woods as an inspiration to the new generation of players.
"My mind wanders to winning this tournament and thinking what it
would be like and what it would mean," he conceded. "It hasn't
really wandered beyond that."
[to top of second column] |
Still, as Woods emulated Jack Nicklaus with a poster of the Golden
Bear's achievements on his bedroom wall, the curly-haired McIlroy
has the 39-year-old American to look up to.
"He was a hero of mine growing up," McIlroy said about the former
world number one.
"I did have posters of him on my wall and I did idolize him. He was
someone I put up on a pedestal.
"I think if you ask a lot of golfers that are my generation, he was
the benchmark. He was the inspiration for us to go out and try to be
the best that we could be."
How good that might be, is not on McIlroy's mind.
"I don't have a target," he said. "At the end of my career, I'll add
it up and see where it leaves me."
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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