Rory McIlroy's reaction after conceding defeat at the Masters as Northern Irishman heartbroken at Augusta

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a double bogey on the 11th hole during the second round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club

Rory McIlroy shared his initial thoughts following a heartbreaking defeat at the Masters in Augusta. Despite a disappointing result, McIlroy expressed his determination to “keep showing up and try to do the right thing” as he continues to pursue a career Grand Slam.

McIlroy ranked second worldwide, shot his second 71 during the tournament on Saturday but his ambitions for a Green Jacket were hampered by a windy Friday resulting in a score of 77. This stands as another failed attempt among numerous steps taken towards flipping his trajectory in Georgia this year; attending a coaching session with Butch Harmon, arriving early to Augusta for some groundwork, and participating in games the week prior, with a late Tuesday arrival.

His pre-tournament press conference was short-lived, coming in at just above ten minutes. However, it was a story we’ve heard before for the Florida-based sportsman, who is about to mark the tenth anniversary of his last Major win back in August 2014. His attempts to complete his collection of Majors now sit at 10 out of a total of 16 appearances.

When asked if the ongoing scrutiny regarding a potential victory here has worn him down, McIlroy responded: “No, I mean, all I can do is come here and try my best. That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others. I’ve just got to keep showing up and try to do the right thing.”, reports the Mirror US.

McIlroy was seen beelining for the driving range post-haste after Friday’s dusk, spurred by his own admission that his swing “felt horrific” throughout a birdie-free 6-hour slog in the second round, prompting an urgent quest for refinement.

Paul McGinley, McIlroy’s erstwhile Ryder Cup skipper, didn’t mince words about the golfer’s showing: “His iron play was poor. He is not playing very well.”

Yet, McIlroy offered his own take on the matter: “I just needed to get some rhythm. As the wind is coming down you start getting out of sync. I have a couple of pretty simple swing thoughts. I have made some progress. Definitely hit it a bit better today. I played ok. I have made a couple of decent scores. If I had shot around even par on Friday, I felt I would still have been in this tournament.”

Indeed, the four-time Major champ capitalised on the gusty conditions yesterday, sending his drive on the 460-yard 9th soaring, much to the amazement of fans crossing the fairway as the ball trundled back down the slope. Reflecting on the remarkable drive, he said with a grin: “I certainly didn’t expect the ball to be down there,” adding, “Just sort of shows the strength of the wind.”

Looking ahead, McIlroy has his sights set on competing at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head next week, considering his spot in the FedExCup standings. In his words: “I think I’m like 50th in the FedExCup,” noting the importance of racking up as many tournaments as possible.

Before turning his attention to the trio of Majors scheduled over the coming three months, the globe’s second-ranked golfer is keen to leave a lasting impression in tomorrow’s final round. “It would be nice to go out and shoot a good score tomorrow and finish the week on a positive note,” he remarked.

He also mentioned: “One round is not going to make a season but it would be nice to shoot a good round tomorrow and move on to Hilton Head next week in a good frame of mind.”

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here.