Augusta, Ga. – All three masters honorary starters chose Rory McLero to win on Thursday morning – and Jack Nicolas may have achieved the best insight.
Nicholas revealed that he was sitting for lunch with McLero in South Florida last week, so that McLero played Augusta National.
“And he was with the round, and I did not open my mouth,” Nicholas said. “I said, ‘Okay, I will not change one thing. In the same way I will try to play golf courses.”
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This was not the first time that six -time masters champion Niclaus consulted McLaroy as he tries to capture the final stage of the career Grand Slam.
But this year seems to be different, with McLero, first, winning twice on the first PGA tour before the first head of the year. He is also a pioneer in the strokes obtained: total, which takes into account all statistical categories.
“Discipline is what Rori has lacked in my opinion,” Nicholas said. “He has got all the shots. He has got all the games. He is certainly talented as someone in the game. But if you see, go back back in the last few years and see his history, he receives 8 or 7 pop ups many times, and it stays in the location where he needs to go.”
At the point of Niclaus, Mcilroy has shot 76 or more in at least one round three in the last four years. In 2022, he rebounded to finish alone from the beginning of 73–73.
Tom Watson said that he had a “intestine realization” that it would be the year of McLaroy.
Gary Player added: “He went to Jack for advice to play this golf course. Nobody knows better than Jack. And I think he has time in life, his adversity, Major’s opportunity to win and let him slip. I think his time is right. Now the right time for him.”