Rory McIlroy reminded of Masters nemesis as | Golf News

Brandel Chamblee has sparked debate along with his current assertion that the Masters tends to carry out “the worst golf” in Rory McIlroy.

With the distinguished main returning to Augusta National Golf Club subsequent Thursday, followers are desperate to see if McIlroy can lengthen his stellar efficiency streak this season to the enduring Georgia course. The 35- year-old has already notched two PGA Tour victories in 2025, triumphing on the ATandT Pebble Beach Pro-Am and final month’s Players Championship.

However, Chamblee supplied a observe of warning on an NBC convention call held final Tuesday. He recommended that previous performances point out McIlroy may discover the upcoming Masters difficult, making an analogy: “To continue this Devil Wears Prada theme going a little bit further, I would say that Augusta National is the Miranda Priestly to Rory McIlroy’s Andrea Sachs. It is literally his nemesis.”

Chamblee went on to criticize McIlroy’s observe file on the event, noting, “It brings out the worst golf in Rory annually that we see. It was his worst golf last year in the majors, his worst the year before, two years before that it was his worst golf. He annually underperforms there.

“He hits on average about 42 greens. On average, the winner hits about 52. There are issues about that golf course which were very problematic for him.

“You can’t just act like this is any other golf tournament. It is not like any other golf tournament. For a lot of the golf world, it is the single most important four days they will have, so it’s not like every other golf tournament.

“But on the identical time, you can’t enable your self the posh of trying forward. Just have a look at the final six years, what Rory has finished within the first spherical. The winner right here averages sixth place after the primary spherical. Rory has shot 71, 72, 73, 76, 75, 73 the final six years to start the Masters. That’s largely mental.”

With two PGA Championships, a U.S. Open, and an Open Championship under his belt, the Masters remains the elusive major that McIlroy has yet to conquer in his illustrious career.

This comes as McIlroy recently disclosed some concerns about his elbow, which could potentially hinder his performance. Speaking to The Golf Channel, McIlroy revealed: “My proper elbow has been bothering me a little bit so I’ll possibly simply get some remedy on that and make sure that’s OK going into Augusta.

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“I’ve got my coach Michael Bannon coming in [on Monday], we’ll do some work and make sure everything is in good shape for a week’s time.”

McIlroy, who hasn’t clinched a main title since his 2014 PGA Championship victory at Valhalla, could be feeling the heat as he continues his pursuit of a coveted fashionable Grand Slam, which might place him amongst {golfing} legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen.

Phil Mickelson, nonetheless, has religion within the present World No. 2’s skills to deal with the stress, stating: “That’s challenging, but he’s done it so many times in his ability to win tournaments. He’s been able to compartmentalize that. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for him.”