Rory McIlroy recently visited Augusta National for a practice round ahead of The Masters, as he prepares for his final PGA Tour event before the major season, the Texas Children’s Houston Open. McIlroy, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, has had a strong start to the 2025 PGA Tour season, including wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, where he triumphed in a Monday play-off.
McIlroy’s goal for this week is to focus on the present, aiming to perform well and contend for the title at the Houston Open, his first appearance there since 2014. He emphasized that while he is aware of the upcoming Masters, he is committed to giving his best effort at the Houston Open, with no distractions about future events. McIlroy feels confident with his game but acknowledges areas for improvement, continuing to analyze and refine his performance to build even more confidence ahead of Augusta.
He shared that he uses trips to Augusta for a more familiarization process, checking the course, especially the four newly redone greens, and reviewing potential hole placements. McIlroy finds the opportunity to play a practice round in a more relaxed, crowd-free environment helpful in easing the pressure that comes with the Masters week. This routine allows him to adjust mentally and physically before the full tournament commitments kick in.
The Northern Irishman also mentioned the changes to the 16th hole, which was impacted by Hurricane Helene, noting the loss of a few trees but confirming that the hole remains largely unchanged. He expects only minimal differences, such as fewer shadows on the green late in the day.
McIlroy will face competition at the Houston Open from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is looking to win his first PGA Tour event of the season before defending his Masters title. Scheffler has spoken about the similarities between the Houston Open’s course and Augusta National, highlighting the importance of distance and the similar grass types, which should provide useful preparation for both players ahead of The Masters.
Both McIlroy and Scheffler will be featured throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, with early coverage beginning on Thursday.