{"id":603579,"date":"2026-04-14T14:42:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/603579\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T14:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:42:12","slug":"pros-dismiss-criticism-of-rory-mcilroys-masters-prep-at-augusta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/603579\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros dismiss criticism of Rory McIlroy’s Masters prep at Augusta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rory McIlroy won his second straight Masters<\/a> on Sunday \u2014 just the fourth player ever to repeat as champion \u2014\u00a0although some of the discourse following his sixth major title has focused on if it was fair to the rest of the field that McIlroy admitted he spent so much time practicing at Augusta National<\/a> before the tournament.<\/p>\n

It was even brought up on ESPN\u2019s First Take \u2014 a show that usually doesn\u2019t spend much (or any) time on golf \u2014 and was a topic in certain corners of social media.<\/p>\n

But do those critics have a legitimate gripe? According to the veteran pros who have chimed in, the verdict is a unanimous no. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was the dumbest argument I\u2019ve ever seen in my life,\u201d Kevin Kisner said on Barstool\u2018s ForePlay podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After he built a six-shot lead through 36 holes, McIlroy said he\u2019d spent a good amount of time playing Augusta National over the last couple of weeks and that familiarity helped his putting. He said he played the course two weeks ago and was there Monday and Tuesday the week before the tournament. He also arrived on Sunday before Masters week to play with his dad, Gerry, which comes as a perk of winning the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks, and that\u2019s been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out,\u201d McIlroy said Friday. \u201cI think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with an injury and tied for 46th a week later at the Players, but he took the next three weeks off, skipping the Valspar in Tampa and the two Texas events.<\/p>\n

\u201cI honestly just don\u2019t like the three tournaments leading up to this event,\u201d McIlroy said Friday. \u201cI\u2019d rather come up here. I did a couple of days where I dropped [my daughter] Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her, or had dinner with [my wife] Erica. Like I did a couple of day trips like that where I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio. It wasn\u2019t really about conserving energy, but just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n

After his win, some of these comments were scrutinized. Was he allowed to practice more than others? Was it fair?<\/p>\n

While Augusta National is tight-lipped about club policy, a couple of pros have come to McIlroy\u2019s defense and shed some light on the process of playing there pre-tournament.<\/p>\n

Yes, there\u2019s a number of rounds that ANGC will say no to for me to go by myself and play by myself. That number is prob a little lower for me than a guy like Rory. <\/p>\n

If you find a member to host you every time, there\u2019s no limit. <\/p>\n

I had plenty of chances to go to ANGC myself if I\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/TvmdcciyK1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a number of rounds that ANGC will say no to for me to go by myself and play by myself,\u201d tweeted Michael Kim, who missed the cut this year in his third Masters appearance. \u201cThat number is [probably] a little lower for me than a guy like Rory. If you find a member to host you every time, there\u2019s no limit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had plenty of chances to go to ANGC myself if I wanted to but didn\u2019t go,\u201d he continued. \u201cBetter use of my time practicing at home or wherever I am to get my game in better shape for my next tournament. Course knowledge only gets you so far. Plenty of golfers have even more experience at Augusta than Rory, like Justin Rose.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Kim said, there\u2019s no limit if a member is hosting, and players who qualify for the Masters \u2014\u00a0especially first-timers \u2014 are often taken care of by members who know participants are anxious to see the course alongside those who know it well. Those early trips also help alleviate the nerves that come with a player\u2019s first time, so it\u2019s out of their system come Masters week.<\/p>\n

This whole thing is also somewhat of a subjective argument. While McIlroy chose to play Augusta National a few times instead of play the PGA Tour schedule \u2014\u00a0tournaments he rarely enters anyway \u2014 some pros prefer Tour starts and competitive play in the lead up to majors, even if it\u2019s at a different course. Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, for example, always liked to play the week before the Masters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was the dumbest argument I\u2019ve ever seen in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kiz weighs in on the Rory practice round debate and gives a behind-the-scenes look at course access leading up to majors.<\/p>\n

Presented by @Chevrolet<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4lKURW1MtY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Kisner played in eight Masters and said he\u2019d play the course about 10 times before each. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as you get your invitation, you\u2019re a welcome guest,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously you just have to call and set it up with the pro shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard they\u2019ve told you how many times you can come,\u201d he continued. \u201cLike, if somebody is coming every week, every day, they are like, \u2018Alright bud, you have been here 15 times, that\u2019s enough.\u2019 But I can guarantee they aren\u2019t going to tell a defending champion like, \u2018Hey, you can\u2019t bring your G650 up here on Tuesday morning and leave Tuesday afternoon every day.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Kim, responding to his own tweet, summed it up: \u201cIt is not unfair or an advantage people. It\u2019s irrelevant to the result \u2026 If I wanted to match the number of the rounds at Augusta that Rory got, I easily could have done that.\u201d<\/p>\n