Rory's Race to the Grand Slam: Will Augusta Be His Triumph?

Augusta’s Latecomer Makes Swift Exit from Press Room

Rory McIlroy wasn’t keen on dilly-dallying in front of the microphones this Tuesday at Augusta National. With his eye firmly on the prize, McIlroy rolled into the Masters scene just past noon - a calculated move aimed at upending the spell of gut-wrenching near-misses that's been haunting him at this famed tourney.

McIlroy's got a game plan: he's found solace in the routine, the familiar weekly rhythm. After all, why mess with a system that’s fetched you global acclaim? He’s counting on this to be his magic wand, with echoes of his recent signs of form at the Valero Texas Open.

"It's all about being chilled and dialed-in," McIlroy says. And who’s to argue when the man’s got a track record like his?

Yet Augusta’s been his Everest - ten attempts and that green jacket still eludes him. The wait could be over soon, though. After years of tweaking and refining his Masters algorithm, he's banking on less fuss and more focus.

The hasty presser? Call it Rory's way of saying he's here to play, not chat. Woods is betting big on Rory, saying it isn't a case of 'if', but 'when'. Throwing him in the mix with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele come Thursday, and we’re poised for some real fireworks on the Greens.