Rory McIlroy had a notable advantage during his historic Masters victory last year—advice from three-time champion Phil Mickelson.
Speaking at a pre-Masters press conference, McIlroy recalled a practice round with Mickelson from about 15 years ago. Mickelson had emphasized that the Masters is an event where being aggressive pays off.
This advice baffled McIlroy. Historically, the weight of the tournament had caused him to play cautiously, which led to numerous disappointments. However, he changed his approach in 2025, and it made a significant difference.
“I remember thinking, ‘What does he mean?'” McIlroy shared, referencing his initial confusion. “I feel the opposite. I think I shouldn’t be aggressive because of the risks involved. But Phil has—probably still does—an immense confidence in his short game. He can afford to be aggressive because he believes he can recover if he misses.”
“Improving my putting and enhancing my short game made me more comfortable playing aggressively at Augusta,” he added.
During the last Masters, McIlroy started aggressively on the front nine and gained an early lead.
However, on the back nine, he shifted to a more defensive strategy to safeguard his lead, which led to a double bogey on the 13th hole and a bogey on the 14th, contributing to multiple bogeys afterward.
“There’s a lesson somewhere about not easing off,” McIlroy reflected. “Everything that succeeded for me that day was when I played aggressively, when I went for it. Maybe that’s what I need to remember.”
McIlroy secured his victory in the playoff round against Justin Rose, marking his first green jacket and completing his career Grand Slam.
After clinching the title, his excitement was palpable as he tossed his club and celebrated on the ground.
In recent years, he has faced several challenges in tournaments. In 2024, he was tied for second after 14 holes but slipped to a 22nd place finish after struggling.
Now, McIlroy has his opportunity to defend his title approaching with the 2026 Masters scheduled for April 9-12.
Currently ranked second in the world behind Scottie Scheffler, he’s also managing a back injury.
