Rory McIlroy acknowledged he’s coping with an elbow damage as he prepares to go to Augusta for subsequent week’s Masters. The World No. 2 made a spirited run up the leaderboard on the Texas Kids’s Houston Open on Sunday, carding a 4-under 31 on the entrance 9 that included an eagle.
He made three extra birdies earlier than closing with a bogey to accept a tie for fifth. Regardless of taking pictures 65-64 over the weekend, McIlroy instructed NBC Sports activities that his proper elbow has been bothering him. The Masters begins in 10 days.
“Get some remedy on that and ensure that that is OK going into Augusta,” he mentioned.
McIlroy shouldn’t be taking part in on this week’s Texas Valero Open, giving him time to relaxation the elbow and work on a tweak he made to his driver following the third spherical in Houston.
“I simply took somewhat little bit of loft off it,” he mentioned. “I felt prefer it was getting somewhat bit spinny, particularly if I wished to hit cuts off the tee, so I took somewhat little bit of loft off it. Undoubtedly went by means of the wind higher in the present day and felt somewhat extra comfy.”
Regardless of the elbow discomfort, McIlroy posted yet one more robust end result after scrambling a bit simply to make the lower in Houston. The T5 provides to his pair of wins together with a T4 in Dubai amongst his first eight begins worldwide in 2025.
Nonetheless, McIlroy mentioned his recreation shouldn’t be the place he desires it to be as he chases an elusive inexperienced jacket subsequent week.
“Nonetheless really feel like I’ve received some stuff to work on. Nonetheless do not assume like my recreation is completely one hundred pc below the management I’d need, but it surely’s good to have every week to work on some issues,” he mentioned. “I’ve received my coach, Michael Bannon, coming in (Monday), so we’ll be working at house and ensuring my recreation feels good going into the Masters.”
The Masters is the lone main lacking from McIlroy’s trophy case, though his total main drought now stretches 11 years to the 2014 PGA Championship. He completed T22 final yr after lacking the lower at Augusta in 2023. He was runner-up to Scottie Scheffler in 2022.
“This week, going ahead, it is nearly feeling as comfy as I could be with the issues I have been engaged on, which is type of iron play, wedges,” McIlroy mentioned. “Clearly, quick recreation’s actually, actually necessary round Augusta as nicely. You already know, work on these issues over the following few days and hopefully I am feeling good entering into there.”
