Golf Mar 13, 2026

Rory McIlroy: Masters champion to return to Augusta for round after The Genesis Invitational

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Rory McIlroy: Masters champion to return to Augusta for round after The Genesis Invitational

Masters champion Rory McIlroy is heading back to Augusta next week but will first look to continue to "shake off the rust" at The Genesis Invitational.

The Northern Irishman has a round scheduled with his father, Gerry, and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley as he takes an early look at the course where he will defend his Green Jacket in April.

"I'm going to go up there and play with the chairman next week actually," said the world No 2, whose previous return to Augusta was for some promotional work.

"It wasn't even a round. I was doing some filming up there.

"It was cool to get up to the champions locker room and see my nameplate alongside the other two champions that I share a locker with. It was somewhat nostalgic.

"I wouldn't say it was emotional but definitely there was nice memories; different feels the first time staying on site without having to need a member there.

"There's a lot of perks you get with being a champion.

"I was out on the course and was hitting some shots. They've moved the plate (on the 17th) back 10 yards to make it 10 yards longer but apart from that the course is pretty much the same."

But while next week's trip will be relatively informal in its nature, this week's second Signature Event of the season offers the chance to sharpen his competitive edge.

McIlroy finished five shots behind Collin Morikawa at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am after a level-par third round, which included a triple and double bogey, cost him a realistic chance of defending his title.

The Riviera Country Club is a more forgiving course and the world No 2 is looking to take advantage.

"I'm just sort of working through that first little bit of the year where you're trying to shake a little bit of rust off and you're trying to find your footing a little bit and sort of where your game is," added McIlroy, who played two events on the DP World Tour this year before his arrival in California.

"I learned quite a bit about my game last week, played well for a lot of it.

"Obviously made some big numbers which kept me from being right in contention on Sunday but I feel like there's enough good in there to be encouraged going into this week.

"There's more opportunities to make big numbers last week than there is this week. There's not hazards, there's not water.

"The fact that I'm hitting a lot of good shots and hitting it close and converting a lot of putts, that has to give me confidence for not just this week but going forward."

The PGA Tour stays in California for the Genesis Invitational, another Signature Event, with Tiger Woods' foundation hosting the event at Riviera Country Club and both Scheffler and McIlroy due to feature.

Ludvig Ã…berg returns as defending champion, with early coverage live on Thursday from 3.15pm on Your Site Golf ahead of full coverage from 9pm. or .

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

Charley Hull wins LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International title to open account for 2026 season in one-shot triumph

Charley Hull wins LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International title to open account for 2026 season in one-shot triumph

Charley Hull won the season-opening Ladies European Tour event with a one-shot victory at the LET's PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh after an...

Charley Hull: Englishwoman makes history by moving to career-high world No 3 with latest Ladies European Tour victory

Charley Hull: Englishwoman makes history by moving to career-high world No 3 with latest Ladies European Tour victory

Charley Hull has moved to world No 3 in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings – the highest-ever position by an Englishwoman in the rankings’ 2...

DP World Tour: Marco Penge beats Rory McIlroy to Seve Ballesteros Award for 2025 player of the year

DP World Tour: Marco Penge beats Rory McIlroy to Seve Ballesteros Award for 2025 player of the year

England's Marco Penge has won the 2025 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted the DP World Tour player of the year by his peers. The 27-year-old enj...

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Collin Morikawa edges PGA Tour thriller after Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy produce big finishes

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Collin Morikawa edges PGA Tour thriller after Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy produce big finishes

Collin Morikawa claimed a first PGA Tour title since 2023 with a dramatic one-shot victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where Scottie Scheffle...

Rory McIlroy calls on Team Europe to cut down crowd abuse at 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland

Rory McIlroy calls on Team Europe to cut down crowd abuse at 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland

Rory McIlroy does not want a repeat of the abuse which surrounded him during Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the United States at Bethpage Black when...

DP World Tour: Patrick Reed wins Qatar Masters for second title in three weeks with Scotland's Calum Hill in second place in Doha

DP World Tour: Patrick Reed wins Qatar Masters for second title in three weeks with Scotland's Calum Hill in second place in Doha

Patrick Reed continued his great start to the 2026 season with a two-stroke victory at the Qatar Masters. The American held off a final-day challenge...