[Photo: Adam Glanzman]<\/p>\n
As Rory McIlroy stood on the 12th tee Sunday, where green jackets have been lost in epic fashion, he thought all the way back to a 2009 practice round from his very first Masters. It was then that two-time winner Tom Watson gave him a bit of advice on how to handle the famed \u201cGolden Bell\u201d that may have decided the 2026 edition of the tournament.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what makes this week unlike any other. In the biggest moment of Sunday\u2019s final round, when McIlroy simply had to have it, he thought of Watson, who conquered Augusta National in 1977 and 1981, and of something said to him 17 years ago. McIlroy has been here every year since that moment. He finally conquered the place himself in 2025. But he dug into the memory well in the hopes of conquering it again a year later, and it worked.<\/p>\n
Related: Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy rebounds to collect second consecutive green jacket<\/a><\/p>\n Leading by one over Cameron Young and Justin Rose, who had just gone bogey-bogey at 11 and 12, McIlroy had a chance to impose his will. But No. 12 is not a hole you impose your will upon. It\u2019s a hole that commands respect, and you play it safe. McIlroy drawing on Watson\u2019s words of wisdom was the ultimate sign of respect, though. As the wind swirled as it often does at Amen Corner, he remembered what Watson told him long before he had any of his now six majors and many of his grey hairs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was in off the left. That was where the wind was,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cI waited, this is going back to one of my first-ever practise rounds here. I played a practice round with Tom Watson in 2009, and he told me on the 12th tee that he always waited until he felt where the wind should be, then just hit it. You know, just hit it as soon as you can.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: Masters 2026: Jon Rahm says he needs to make some changes \u2018preparation-wise\u2019 after second-worst Masters result<\/a><\/p>\n McIlroy is a man who prefers to play fast, but the 12th requires patience. A good mix of both, as Watson told him, will serve you well. Wait for the wind you want, then strike.<\/p>\n That\u2019s just what McIlroy did, and the patrons on hand practically gasped in unison as the ball pushed toward the flag. You don\u2019t go to the 12th flag on Sunday. It never ends well.<\/p>\n It ended beautifully for McIlroy, whose three-quarter 9-iron pitched onto the front part of the green just right of the front bunker and spun toward the hole, leaving him with about seven feet for birdie. Young matched him with a gutsy shot of his own and got to putt first. He missed, McIlroy made, and everything changed.<\/p>\n McIlroy reaches 12 under par with a birdie on No. 12. #themasters<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3dYecCog2V<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c[The wind] was all over the place,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I stood up on the tee, it felt like it was off the right, and I looked at the 11th flag and it was blowing right to left. But I was patient, and I waited to feel where the wind should have been coming from, and I knew it was just a perfect 3\/4 9-iron.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy admitted that he didn\u2019t plan on it drifting as far right as it did. But he\u2019s not complaining now.<\/p>\n \u201cI aimed it at the middle of the bunker,\u201d he added. \u201cProbably didn\u2019t anticipate it to drift as far right as it did. That\u2019s why you give yourself a little bit of margin for error. That was a really good golf shot at the right time and probably a golf shot I wouldn\u2019t have been able to hit yesterday if I didn\u2019t go to the range and try to figure a few things out and try to neutralise the ball flight a little bit.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, absolutely huge, huge shot in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019d argue it was the biggest.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR FULL\u00a0GOLF DIGEST\u00a0MASTERS COVERAGE<\/a><\/p>\n