Outside of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy is undoubtedly going to be the overwhelming favourite to win The Masters, with the Northern Irishman already winning twice on the PGA Tour in 2025.
Had Rory McIlroy not gone more than a decade without winning a major, the 35-year-old would surely be the one player you would back with no hesitation to win The Masters.
For the first time in his entire career, McIlroy has won twice on the PGA Tour before April arrives. And the events he won were amongst the biggest on tour, with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship both ending with McIlroy lifting the trophy.
A fifth place finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open was almost more encouraging than if McIlroy had secured win number three. Unless McIlroy really is going to replicate Scottie Scheffler‘s 2024, then it seems more important that he peaks at the right time now.
How Rory McIlroy has created some drama ahead of The Masters
However, there was a concern for McIlroy following his final round at Memorial Park.
McIlroy spoke of having an elbow problem which he was set to receive treatment on. But perhaps there was a reason that he waited until after his final round to mention the issue.
Speaking on 5 Clubs, Andrew Coltart admitted that it may have been an inspired move for McIlroy to put the world on notice about a potential injury.
“It’s curious about this elbow thing that I hadn’t really heard about up until this week, and I’m very reminded about Padraig Harrington in 2008 when he was defending the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, how he went under the radar because he said he had an injury and he played everything down and he kept a low profile in the media that week, and it allowed him to focus and concentrate on his job and go about his business with the pressure off,” he said.
“I’m not for a second saying that this elbow issue is made up, but I’m just saying that I think whatever the situation is there, that could also stand him in good stead. Maybe just taking a little bit of heat, a little bit of pressure off him. If he can try and deflect that with that stoicism you talk about Gary, it’s going to be a pretty difficult wall to try and break down.”
Some not convinced Rory McIlroy is really hurt following the Houston Open
Coltart is not the only person who has expressed some belief that McIlroy may have been quite intentional in mentioning his elbow issue.
The injury appears to have come from nowhere. And speaking on Dan on Golf, Dan Rapaport admitted that he is not at all convinced by McIlroy’s comments.
“I’m not buying it. I’m not buying any part of it. I’m not buying the elbow, I’m not buying the having the coach come in and work on some stuff. I think he’s trying to throw the scent off a little bit,” he said.
“I think it’s all systems go. I saw Rick Gehman tweeted this is the second best form he’s ever been in in his career heading into Augusta. Maybe he’s just trying to fly under the radar a little bit.”
Hopefully, it is indeed a ruse from McIlroy. It feels like McIlroy could hardly be better placed to finally win at Augusta National, so it would be a huge shame if it was his own body which got in the way.
