I probably missed four or five yards right of where I needed to, and it came back down the hill, and then you're in an awkward spot.

Rory McIlroy

Categorized in : Sports

Look, I'm going to need something basically around 61, 62 (Sunday) to have a real chance, i'm not sure that's going to happen, but we'll see.

I've played them more conservatively. When I put myself in a good position off the tee, I just try to hit it in the middle of the green and take my two putts, a couple of times, once yesterday on 13, I hit it close and made eagle ... I just played them a little more conservatively or smartly, and missed it in the right areas when I have and been able to get it down.

I definitely feel like I play this golf course better and better every year that I come here, i don't know, I just need to keep putting numbers up like I did today. I know I'm capable of it ... just a few stretches of holes have held me back and that's really been the case this year again.

I just kept telling myself to be patient out there today, it was a tricky day. The wind was swirling a little bit. Pin positions were tough. Anything under par I felt was a pretty good score. It was nice to pick up a couple birdies on the back nine on the par 5s there. Pretty satisfied with today's work.

I'll hope to be right there at the end of the week. by Rory McIlroy

I'll hope to be right there at the end of the week.

It could have been a round that got away from me, i just stayed patient, realizing that it's a 72-hole tournament. It was good to get into red numbers.

Everything I've done, all the work I've done gearing up for this week has been good, i'm just ready for the gun to go off on Thursday.

A lot of that win has to do with what happened at Augusta. by Rory McIlroy

A lot of that win has to do with what happened at Augusta.

Does it give people something else to talk about ? Yes, but I'm not necessarily listening to anything that anyone is saying, so doesn't really make a difference to me.' That Rory McIlroy is coming into the Masters with blinders on is little surprise. He's got a chance to become only the sixth player to win a career Grand Slam with a win here, and he's prepared meticulously for his attempt to conquer a course that seems made for his game but has consistently given him fits. He did it mostly out of the tournament spotlight, working on his game the last few weeks near his Florida home.

It's the one that should set up the best for me just with my ball flight and being comfortable off the tee here, especially being able to turn the ball over from right to left and all that, if I can play the way I know I can around here and just have a good week on the greens, then there's no reason why I shouldn't have a good chance.

Just trying to keep my game where it is and do some quality work, not overdo it, just do the right amount so that when I got here yesterday for the first time, again, I was ready to play and just needed to go see the golf course. Wasn't working on anything in my game, my swing. Wasn't thinking about technique at all. Just all about hitting the shots I need to and thinking about how to manage my game and get it around here for the next four days.

I did have posters of him on my wall and I did idolize him, really, i think if you ask a lot of golfers that are my generation, he was the benchmark. He was the inspiration for us to go out and try to be the best that we could be.

I just really felt like spending a couple of weeks away from this... by Rory McIlroy

I just really felt like spending a couple of weeks away from this, I guess.

Seeing signs of my game that I like, another three days of hopefully solid golf and try and get into contention, and that will put me in a good place going into Augusta.

I thought I'd just mix it up a little bit this year, play here and then I'll have a couple weeks off to get ready for Augusta. Back in' 11, I took three weeks off before The Masters. It worked pretty well for 63 holes, not quite 72. So just trying to adopt a similar approach.

Northern Ireland was sort of an unplanned visit, the last five days have been really good work with him, just one-on-one, no one else around. It's been really good. So feeling much better about my game now than I was walking off Doral 10 days ago.

I didn't hit any extra balls. I played one ball the whole time, really wanted to go and enjoy it with my dad. That was what the whole thing was about. There's four father-and-sons, and we had a great time.

It's their offseason, i guess for me it was to see all those guys in the gym before their season starts and they're so dedicated and committed to what they do, especially those two guys, Peyton and Tom Brady. They're both in their mid-30s and they want to prolong their careers as much as they can.

It's their offseason, i guess for me it was to see all those guys in the gym before their season starts and they're so dedicated and committed to what they do, especially those two guys, Peyton and Tom. They're both in their mid-30s and they want to prolong their careers as much as they can.

That was my time to leave. by Rory McIlroy

That was my time to leave.