What Rory McIlroy believes so many golf fans get wrong about Augusta National

“One of the silver linings for golf post-COVID has been this explosion in the game. I think when people say grow the game, they mean different things. To me, what the real thing of growing the game is is growing the participation in the sport, getting people to play the game. I feel like in the professional world, in the PGA Tour world, when people talk about growing the game, they’re talking about growing the fanbase and growing the people that watch the sport, which is a part of it. But I think growing it is actually getting more people to play. Golf is a participation sport, you want people to play,” he said.

“If what ESPN did, for example, at The Masters encourages people to go and play the game, I think that’s amazing. I think that’s absolutely incredible. Yes, Augusta is very traditional in its ways, and golf is very traditional, but I don’t think any other golf organisation pushes the envelope as much as Augusta does, because they had Dude Perfect doing all sorts of stuff on Amen Corner a couple of years ago. They’ve embraced what you guys did with the Par Three.

“Golf’s demographic is old, how do we get it younger? And then if you get the young people in early, then they’ll be in golf for the rest of their life. That’s a really good thing. I think there’s certain values and traditions in golf that should stay because I think it teaches young people good lessons. Look at Cam Young yesterday calling a penalty on himself at Doral, that stuff is really important. But I think you can still uphold the values and the traditions of the game but still appeal to a younger demographic. I don’t think those two things are exclusive. I think you can do those things at the same time.”

What Augusta National members thought of Rory McIlroy after his Masters win

McIlroy’s win at Augusta National in 2025 was one of the most significant the game has ever seen.

He was only the second player to complete a Career Grand Slam at The Masters. And obviously, no one took longer to complete the set.

So perhaps it is no surprise that he has taken his responsibility as champion so seriously. For example, McIlroy became the first player to take the Green Jacket to India last year.

Brandel Chamblee said the Augusta National members were amazed by McIlroy’s behaviour during his time as champion in the days before his second victory.

It was apparent for many years that Augusta National would have a huge role in defining the career of Rory McIlroy. Thankfully, he was able to banish all of those painful memories with his last two performances.