Rory McIlroy has revealed how a “colourful” pep talk helped him fire a second round 66 and catapult himself back into contention at the 2020 Masters Tournament.
The Northern Irishman had fired an opening 75 to sit ten shots off the lead and with just a short turnaround into round two due to Thursday's inclement weather, a change in momentum was needed at Augusta National Golf Club and fast.
McIlroy got just that as he fired a 66 to get to three under, and he revealed a frank discussion with friend and Augusta National member Jimmy Dunne may have been the key to his nine shot swing.
“Jimmy gave me a pep talk in between rounds going on to the range,” he said. “It was colourful.
“I honestly have been playing so good coming in here, and then I go into the first round and I shoot 75, and I’m like, ‘where the hell did that come from?’.
“I knew it was in there, it was just a matter of trusting a little more and being committed. It was better this afternoon.
75-66 for Rory. A fine response.#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/MwNoc8F9vG
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 13, 2020
“Hopefully I’ve got my eye in the last 18 holes and I need a couple of days pretty similar over the weekend to give myself a chance.”
McIlroy faced a bunker shot on the tenth hole when the first round resumed on Friday but failed to save par and then had to take a penalty drop from the undergrowth following a wild drive on the 13th.
The four time Major Champion also bogeyed the 14th and followed a much needed birdie on the 15th by pulling his tee shot on the 16th into the water.
“I was thinking coming into this morning, 'get this ball up and down on ten, play the last few holes in three or four under par, get in and then go again', and I did the complete opposite,” McIlroy added.
“That wasn’t ideal, and obviously wasn’t what I was thinking of. I turned it around nicely and shot a good one, at least gave myself a chance going into the weekend.”
McIlroy started his second round on the back nine and birdied the tenth, 12th, 15th and 17th before picking up further shots on the second and eighth.
