Rory McIlroy says preparation at ‘home course’ Augusta aided Masters defence

Rory McIlroy has explained how weeks of preparation at “home course” Augusta National after advice from Jack Nicklaus played a substantial role in his successful ­Masters defence.

Rather than play in PGA Tour events in the lead up to the Masters and despite a back injury causing him competitive disruption, McIlroy spent considerable time at Augusta in the lead-up to the Masters. On one occasion, it is understood he played the front nine in 29 when playing with a single ball.

After seeing off Scottie Scheffler by a stroke, the Northern Irishman and now six-time major winner pointed towards his deliberate buildup. “I joked last week that this place feels like my home course,” said McIlroy before leaving Augusta. “I haven’t played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks really. I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss. I’m pretty comfortable with all the shots around the greens.

“It’s a good blueprint. I’m not going to take three weeks off before every major, but to get to the major venues early, do your preparation, play. And not just play and look at things, but actually play. Go out there with one ball, shoot a score and try to do it that way.

“When I’ve talked to Jack Nicklaus over the years, how he prepared for majors, he would go the week before and he would simulate a tournament. He’d play one ball for four days, shoot scores. So then when he got to the tournament, it felt second nature to him. I did a little bit of that and I think that’s certainly a good way to prepare going into the next majors.”

Rory McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have retained the Green Jacket. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Expect to see plenty of McIlroy at the sites of the three remaining majors of 2026; Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale. After the emotion and adjustment attached to the 2025 Masters, where McIlroy completed the career grand slam, he believes he will reset much quicker.

“I was glad last year that the whole grand slam thing was done, because that was what I was chasing,” McIlroy said. “And now going forward, everything is icing on the cake or a cherry on top, all gravy, whatever you want to call it. “But I feel like I can just go and play my game and have a chance to win a lot more majors.”

Scheffler stopped short of criticising tournament organisers but clearly raised an eyebrow at Friday afternoon conditions, when McIlroy birdied six out of Augusta’s closing seven holes. “I’m not in charge of course setup,” Scheffler said. “I would have liked it to have been a little bit more equal in terms of the firmness on Thursday and Friday. I was a bit surprised at how soft things were on Friday afternoon, especially as it got late in the day.

“But the weather also changes and it was a bit windy on Thursday, so who knows. That’s part of the game.”