Masters: Why is no one talking about Rory McIlroy going back-to-back?

AUGUSTA, Ga. — If you’re a fan of Rory McIlroy, the lead-up to this year’s Masters has been a content bonanza.

Rory breaking down his champion’s dinner menu. The Rory documentary on Amazon Prime taking you inside the drama of last year’s final round. Rory in his green jacket watching the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Rory taking you inside every single shot from the final round in an official Masters video.

But as McIlroy prepares to tee off at 10:31 a.m. ET for his first round as defending champion on Thursday, here’s the Rory conversation nobody seems to be having: How much of a shot does he have to go back-to-back at the Masters?

“I think for the past 17 years I just could not wait for the tournament to start,” McIlroy said, referring to the endless buildup about whether this would finally be his time to win it. “This year I wouldn't care if the tournament never started.”

As look-backs go, the way McIlroy won his first green jacket is worthy of the attention it has gotten in recent weeks: Relinquishing the lead to Bryson DeChambeau right away with a double bogey at No. 1, grabbing it back on No. 3, having full control of the tournament as he walked off No. 12, giving up the lead after disasters on No. 13 and No. 14, his once-in-a-lifetime approach on No. 15, missing a four-footer on the 72nd hole to win and then regrouping with a birdie in the playoff against Justin Rose that finally completed his career Grand Slam.

It was one of the most dramatic days in the history of golf, producing moments that will be replayed at every Masters for the rest of our lives.. Movies, books, podcasts – each piece of content has brought a new nugget to light, like McIlroy being dismayed that DeChambeau laid back off the tee on No. 3, his conversation with caddie Harry Diamond about whether to go over the tree or chip out from the left side on No. 7, and the gamesmanship with DeChambeau about who would putt first on No. 9.

For McIlroy fans and golf nerds, it’s a never-ending treasure chest filled with gold. You can’t relive that Sunday too many times.

Rory McIlroy takes in the moment after winning the 2025 Masters. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

(Erick W. Rasco via Getty Images)

And oddly, the amount of 2025-related content has birthed an unintended consequence: Perhaps for the first time in his career, McIlroy’s chances of winning is a topic almost completely off the radar.

At his news conference Tuesday, McIlroy was asked 22 questions. Out of those 22, a big, fat zero were related to his form coming into this event, how he’s been playing or anything specific about his recent results.

Not that there’s a ton to talk about in 2026. McIlroy enters the Masters having made just four starts on the PGA Tour, with a T2 at the Genesis and a lower back injury that caused him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational a month ago.

It’s a far cry from last year when McIlroy came to Augusta on a tear, having won two tournaments already including The Players Championship.

“I feel comfortable on the golf course, feel comfortable with my game,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “It's been a good three weeks at home getting ready physically and mentally and just trying to prepare for everything that this week is going to sort of throw at me. I know that I can do it now, so that should make it a little easier for me to go out and play the golf I want to play.”

Given the way McIlroy was playing 12 months ago, it would have been a huge disappointment not to win. In 2024 and 2023, he was not in his best form early in the season and didn’t contend at Augusta National either year. In 2019, he arrived as the favorite after winning The Players and never got comfortable, finishing tied for 21st.

Sometimes, McIlroy came here with a ton of confidence. Sometimes, he didn’t. Either way, where people set those expectations always ranked among the tournament’s biggest storylines.

Because he hasn’t played much this year and all the focus has been on what happened last year, it’s almost impossible to judge what the expectations should be this time as he tries to become just the fourth player to go back-to-back, joining Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus.

“I think the story as it relates to me is what do I do from now onwards? What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that's the story,” he said. “And there's still a lot that I want to do. You think every time you achieve something or have success that you'll be happy, but then the goalposts move, and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.

“I think what I've realized is, if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that's the big thing because honestly I felt like the career Grand Slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realized it wasn't the destination.”

After an emotional lull following his Masters win, McIlroy seemed plenty motivated last fall when he won the Irish Open, helped lead the European Ryder Cup team to a win at Bethpage Black and made a big Sunday charge to get into a playoff at the DP Tour World Championship, where he lost to Matt Fitzpatrick.

But with his start-and-stop schedule early this season, it’s hard to tell if that momentum has carried over to 2026. Has McIlroy played enough tournaments to get into major championship form? Is his back really healthy? Given the mental weight removed from his psyche at Augusta, does he even need to be playing well at this stage to feel confident stepping onto this course?

It’s a fascinating new phase for McIlroy, who has never started a Masters with so little conversation about his chances of actually winning the thing.

Over the years, McIlroy tried a variety of approaches to dealing with that internalized pressure. He showed up early. He showed up late. He didn’t talk to the media. He talked too much. None of it seemed to matter — until the final putt dropped last April.

“I keep saying this, it's a dream come true,” he said. “It's incredible. I really tried to embrace and enjoy every part of it. I've got one more thing to try to embrace and enjoy at the Champions Dinner, then I'll be able to turn my full attention to getting ready for the golf tournament.”

But he's never gotten ready quite this way: The more we talk about 2025, the less time there's been to focus on what he's going to do in 2026.

Will that help or hurt McIlroy's chances of going back to back? When he arrives on the first tee Thursday for the first time as a Masters champion, we'll finally start to find out.