Rory McIlroy At The Masters: Will the Curse Continue?

It’s almost time for the first major of the year as fans flock to Augusta National for the iconic Masters. Rory McIlroy will be among the names tipped to win the Green Jacket but it remains the only major he is yet to win. Could 2024 be his year?

McIlroy’s Year Thus Far

It’s been a steady if somewhat unspectacular start to the year for McIlroy. However, he tends to turn up for the big occasion, and as a result, is second favourite in the Masters betting odds at 9/1. He trails world number one Scottie Scheffler in the golf odds, with the American 4/1 favourite following back-to-back wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.

In his first outing of the year, McIlroy threw away the Dubai Invitational title by finding the water on the 18th, paving the way for compatriot Tommy Fleetwood to lift the trophy. However, the Northern Irishman bounced back in incredible fashion, coming from 10 shots back at the halfway mark to claim his fourth Dubai Desert Classic title.

Since then, McIlroy has finished T24 at The Genesis Invitational, T21 at both the Cognizant Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational, and T19 at The Players. He has played consistent golf but has not quite found his groove.

McIlroy’s form isn’t always an indicator of his performance at majors. Regardless, he typically steps up. The 34-year-old has finished in the top 10 of seven of the previous eight majors, including four top-fives.

History maker @McIlroyRory ????

4th Dallah trophy for the legend #DubaiDesertClassic #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/HIKiUPmzvw

— Hero Dubai Desert Classic (@DubaiDCGolf) January 21, 2024

Rory’s Record at The Masters

Despite never winning the prestigious Green Jacket. McIlroy has come close on numerous occasions. Fans should not be swayed by the fact he has missed the cut twice at the last three Masters. Even with those two anomalies, McIlroy has finished in the top 10 in seven of the last 10 iterations of the tournament.

This run includes a fourth-place finish in 2015, T5s in 2018 and 2020, and a career-best finish of second in 2022.

McIlroy has made the top 25 more times at The Masters than in any other major, with those 11 tournaments including seven top-10s, four top-fives, and a second-place finish. The world number two might be the best player never to have won The Masters.

Is it Finally McIlroy’s Time to Win the Green Jacket?

The unfortunate issue for Rory is that he could play his best golf at Augusta this spring and still fall short. The reason? Scottie Scheffler.

Scheffler is in remarkable form this year, with back-to-back victories at Bay Hill and The Players emphasising just how far he has come on the greens. The number one has been the best player from tee to green for a while now, but now he seems to have found his putting stroke too.

He defines the moment yet again!

Scottie Scheffler has won THE PLAYERS 2024.#THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/XZbUBn3H2W

— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) March 17, 2024

Scheffler has far less experience at the great Augusta. However, he has impressed on his outings thus far. Of his four Masters appearances, he has made the top 25 in all four, including a historic triumph in 2022. Who did he beat to the Green Jacket you might ask? That’s right, Rory McIlroy.

There will be millions spurring McIlroy on to victory but it remains to be seen if he can eclipse the brilliance of Scottie Scheffler.