The Masters 2024: An early look at how Rory McIlroy will do in Augusta
Yardbarker has already made it clear that it isn't too early to be looking toward The Masters. And if we're going to look at Tiger Woods's chances of winning another green jacket, we also have to look at the pro still in search of his first win at Augusta: Rory McIlroy.
The Irishman is still in search of a career grand slam, and he got his 2024 season kicked off at the DP World Tour's Dubai Invitational where he finished second to Tommy Fleetwood by a single stroke. It wasn't a bad finish considering it was McIlroy's first start in roughly two months, but that hasn't stopped pundits and talking heads from speculating what the near-miss means for the world No. 2's 2024 campaign.
What can we expect from McIlroy? And what does that mean for his chances to win the Masters, where he is listed at 9-1 odds to top the leaderboard?
Golf Magazine has already attacked these questions head-on, with assistant editor Jack Hirsh saying McIlroy's mishaps at Dubai are not indicative of how he will perform in the spring.
It should also be noted that McIlroy's priorities appear to have shifted since he stepped away from being at the forefront of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf fight. Now, the focus can be more dialed into dominating the links, including at Augusta.
"The circumstances surrounding McIlroy this year are completely different than 12 months ago and I think that can only help him," Hirsh wrote. "Obviously, we’ll over-analyze his three-putt or his hook on the 72nd [at Dubai] and chalk it up to rustiness, but the fact of the matter is only one thing should matter to him anymore in golf, and hopefully for him, he’ll enter the Masters with a clear focus on that objective."
McIlroy will get plenty of chances to up his game before the Masters. After defending his title at the Dubai Desert Classic, he'll make his PGA Tour season debut on Feb. 1 when he tees off at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and then gets into the tour season groove at the Genesis Invitational.
"This year, in fact, I’m going to play more before the Masters," McIlroy told Sports Illustrated. "It will be my ninth or 10th event of the year. Previously, it’s been my sixth or seventh. I’ll hopefully be a bit sharper and know exactly where my game really is."
Whether the extra pre-Augusta events will help or hinder remains to be seen. And, of course, the Masters odds will change as the event nears. In the meantime, though, it looks like McIlroy has a good foundation for competing at the first major event of the season.
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