Former pro feels Rory McIlroy benefitting from 'huge weight being lifted' after flying Masters start
Former professional golfer Andrew Coltart believes Rory McIlroy is benefitting from the “huge weight” which has been lifted following last year’s Masters triumph after making a solid start to his title defence at Augusta.
McIlroy became only the sixth player in history to complete golf’s Career Grand Slam after winning a play-off against Justin Rose last year, ending an 11-year wait for a fifth major championship in the process.
With the weight of expectation gone and a green jacket safely stored away inside the exclusive champions’ locker room, McIlroy has been able to enjoy a newfound freedom around the picturesque Georgia course.
The Northern Irishman sat atop of the leaderboard alongside Sam Burns on five-under par after Thursday’s opening round.
McIlroy’s 67, which included six birdies, marked only the third time in 18 Masters appearances that he’s posted a first round in the 60s.
The world number two didn’t have it all his own way, registering a bogey at the par-four third hole and only hit five of 14 fairways, but Coltart feels McIlroy has grown as a golfer after his famous triumph 12 months ago.
"He's had an awful lot of obligations, he had answered the same question a million times leading up to the first round,” he said on the Sky Sports Golf podcast. “I wouldn't have been surprised if he had put in a tired performance...maybe that's why he gave the perception of being laid back because anything else would have potentially drained him.
"He slipped back into tournament mode. I think with the pressure that has been on his shoulders the last 11 years, I think he would have turned Thursday's round into 73 or 74.
"But you see Rory McIlroy doing what Rory McIlroy is capable of because that huge weight has been lifted from him. He posted one of the best opening rounds he ever has done in his life."
Coltart, who predicted the winning score come Sunday could still be somewhere around -10 with conditions set to become more tricky, has also highlighted the burden which was being carried by McIlroy as his Masters agony continued year-on-year.
With a high value being placed on mental clarity as golfers tackle one of their toughest tests on the calendar, Coltart believes the Holywood native can now enjoy the challenge having finished off his major collection.
"Nobody can imagine how much that was a burden of expectation on him,” he added. “He had to front up every single time in the press conferences, the same thing...as a professional golfer you're trying to deflect all of that.
"You're trying to not think about things so you can have a clear head to get on with the job.
"I just think he had a clear head on his shoulders and was able to show what he's capable of, even without his A-game.”