Masters 2024: Trevor Immelman contends building pressure is biggest obstacle to Rory McIlroy completing career grand slam

According to Trevor Immelman, of all the intriguing narratives for the upcoming Masters Tournament, such as Scottie Scheffler’s impressive performance and Jon Rahm’s bid for a second consecutive win, the most notable one is Rory McIlroy’s ongoing pursuit of the career grand slam. .

“Rory is the main focus here,” Immelman, who won the Masters in 2008 and is now the main analyst for CBS Sports, mentioned during a press call on Monday ahead of CBS’s 69th consecutive year broadcasting the Masters.

“It’s really surprising that he hasn’t won a major in the last ten years considering how dominant he has been in the sport during that time. I am excited to see what he brings to the table.

Wouldn’t it be exciting for us at CBS and the golfing community if McIlroy attempted to complete the grand slam next Sunday?”

“It is likely that Rory would also enjoy it. However, since his dramatic collapse on the back nine in 2011 that ruined what could have been a dominant victory, McIlroy has not had many opportunities.

After that Masters tournament, McIlroy has only found himself in the top-10 at the start of the final round three times, with one instance being in 2018 when he was in second place and played in the last group with eventual winner Patrick Reed.

His highest placement was a surprise second place finish two years ago when he finished with a 64, but this is surrounded by missed cuts in 2021 and 2023.”

McIlroy, ranked second in the world behind Scheffler, is competing this week at the Valero Texas Open before he heads to Augusta National Golf Club. He last won a major at the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., site of next month’s PGA.

It would probably be fun for Rory, too. But since his epic back-nine collapse in 2011 that torpedoed what would have been a wire-to-wire victory, McIlroy hasn’t given himself many chances. Since that Masters, McIlroy has begun the final round inside the top-10 on only three occasions, including 2018 when he stood second and played in the final pairing with eventual winner Patrick Reed. His best finish was a backdoor second place two years ago when he closed with a 64, but that is sandwiched between missed cuts in 2021 and ’23.

Immelman described McIlroy’s hunt for the grand slam as “the ultimate trying to get over the line; that is the most elite list in our sport is career grand slam winners.”

In other words, it’s hard to accomplish. Only five men have done it: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

“This is going to be his [McIlroy’s] 10th attempt, and, mentally, it starts to weigh on you more and more because you feel like you’ve got what it takes,” said Immelman, who believes the if McIlroy has made one mistake, it’s playing Augusta National too aggressively.

“If you’ve gotten to this level, you’ve obviously proven it. The pressure you put on yourself and that spotlight just starts to intensify. And so mentally it becomes a huge challenge. It’s a monster you have to run toward. I think back to some advice that Gary Player gave me on the eve before the final round of the 2008 masters. He said, ‘Trevor, you better learn to love of adversity because it’s going to come at some point and when it does, that’s going to be the moment. Are you either going to stand up to it and embrace that and really fight to win this Masters or are you going to cower away?’”

Verne Lundquist, who was covering his 40th and last Masters tournament for CBS in 2011, was surprised when McIlroy started to struggle towards the end of the final round.

Despite building a strong lead, McIlroy ended up dropping to T-15 after shooting an 80. Lundquist was particularly shocked by McIlroy’s collapse, especially his triple bogey at the 10th hole.

Lundquist gave reasons as to why McIlroy’s sudden downfall came as a surprise.

He had been given a scouting report that appeared genuine at first, but turned out to be inaccurate.”

Rory and David Feherty are both from nearby towns in Northern Ireland. David and I lived together in Augusta for 11 years along with Peter Kostis,” Lundquist mentioned.

David had dinner with Rory on Saturday night and then he came back to our house where we were staying at the time, and he said, ‘I can guarantee you, he’s in the right mindset. He’s going to dominate tomorrow.’ So when Rory had a setback on the 10th hole, that’s all I could think about.

And it’s a memory that still lingers. It was difficult to witness. Very, very difficult to watch.”