Collin Morikawa responds when asked if he finds Rory McIlroy intimidating

Photo by Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images

Rory McIlroy was the man of the moment on the first two days of The Masters, seemingly closing in on another major title.

McIlroy soared to a record six-shot lead at Augusta National, although that gap was quickly narrowed in the third round.

Among the chasing pack was Collin Morikawa, who continued his fine run at the tournament with a four-under 68 on Saturday.

The American will enter Sunday at The Masters on five-under, despite having been severely hampered by a back injury this season.

Along with discussing that injury after his third round, Morikawa was asked if he would describe McIlroy as intimidating, following comments from the 36-hole leader saying he wasn’t an intimidating player.

Collin Morikawa unsure if intimidating is right to describe Rory McIlroy

Also asked what intimidating means to him at Augusta, he said: “I would say… I think the biggest intimidating thing out here, especially when you’ve never been here, is just how grand everything is, right, and how vast it expands.

“We stand right here, and you can see… if you’re a little taller, you can see 18, 9, 8, 1, 2 over there, 7. It’s just so vast and large in the sense of you don’t really see that at many places.

“I think when you’re able to really focus in on every hole, you’re able to play golf and just focus on that one shot. I’ve been able to do that.

“Intimidating, is Rory? I don’t know.

“When the guy is driving the ball lights-out, I don’t know if intimidating is the word, but it’s a feat of itself and it’s pretty impressive.

“But I’ve learned to figure out how to play golf courses myself, and when I’m on, I feel like I’m on, and hopefully we’re able to keep up with everyone.”

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Collin Morikawa never thought of withdrawing from The Masters

Morikawa and McIlroy had plenty in common entering The Masters, with both players having been dealing with back injuries.

But despite that far from ideal preparation for the major tournament, the duo have been hugely impressive this week.

Morikawa last played on the PGA Tour at The Players Championship this time last month, but withdrew after just one hole because of his injury.

Sharing how close he was to making a similar decision at Augusta, he said: “I don’t think I was ever to the point of, like, where I was going to pull out.

“Maybe that’s a little selfish of me, but I was very thankful that the weather was going to be like this, that it wasn’t going to be soft, and I was going to have to carry drivers a lot farther.

“I can kind of hit some low runners. I was worried a little bit about the firm greens, but make pars out here.

“I think I’ve played enough out here to where I know I can kind of work it around some holes and get away with it.”

Morikawa was delighted to make the Masters cut, but he may now have grand plans to pull off an even bigger shock on Sunday.

He’s certainly exceeded expectations given his back issue, which he will be hoping can hold out for one more round.

Read more:

Shane Lowry makes Masters history after hitting hole-in-one during round three

Michael Kim names the one player that he thinks can challenge Rory McIlroy at The Masters

Paul McGinley states how Rory McIlroy is ‘very different’ to Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus