Rory McIlroy insists November Masters is ‘just what I need’ as he eyes career Grand Slam
RORY McILROY reckons moving the Masters to November could be just “what I need” to complete the career Grand Slam.
The Northern Irishman, 30, admitted the hype surrounding him every time he turns up for the first Major of the year also cranks up the pressure.
With two USPGA titles, The Open and the US Open in the bag, McIlroy has already launched five unsuccessful bids to become only the sixth player to win all four Majors.
He has finished outside the top ten only once in the last six Masters, proving he has the game to tame Augusta — which he also showed when scorching into a four-shot lead after 54 holes in 2011, before collapsing to a final round 80.
But with the Masters now scheduled as the final Major of the year after coronavirus wrecked the schedule, the world No 1 clearly fancies his chances of finally pulling on a Green Jacket.
He said: “I feel like there’s anticipation going to Augusta as the first big event of the year. There’s all this hype.
“I don’t think it’ll feel like that this year, I think it’ll feel a little bit different, which I’m looking forward to.
“It’s going to be a different Masters and personally, selfishly, maybe that’s what I need.”
McIlroy will also find the weather will favour him and the game’s big hitters.
The wind direction at that time of year means three of the four par fives are usually played into the wind, so only the real bombers can reach them in two.
And the ball will not fly as far in the cooler November air, when temperatures hover around the mid-60s, instead of the high-70s the players experience in April.
With three-and-a-half hours less daylight, there will be earlier starts to contend with too and Masters officials could introduce a two-tee start for the 96-man field.
McIlroy added: “November is going to be different. It’s going to be cold, the course can play very long.
“The greens might not be as fast as they usually are in April, depending on the moisture — although, obviously, they can do whatever they want with the course with the SubAir systems and everything.
“But I think it’ll be a different feel. It’s the back end of the year and two of the Majors will have already been played — and, hopefully, the Ryder Cup’s been played too.
“People might be in their routines and in their flow a little bit more than usual.”
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Jack Nicklaus also thinks the move will help McIlroy.
The six-time Masters winner said: “He seems to play better in the autumn.
“He’s won the Tour Championship a couple of times, played in Atlanta in very similar conditions. I think this scheduling will be in Rory’s favour.”