Jack Nicklaus at Rory McIlroy Masters Strategy Conference

Augusta, Ga. – As if expectations for Rory McIlroy to enter the 89th Masters are not yet available for Rock Lory Pine, the hype train added several cars Thursday morning when three legendary former champion McIlroy called McIlroy this week’s prevalence.

“I think Rory McIlroy [career] The three-piece green jacket champion Gary player said on the Grand Slam title.

“I just think Rory is the one who is going to win,” Watson agreed.

And Jack?

More.

“Ibid,” he said. “Okay, go ahead.”

But Nicklaus isn’t actually ready to move on because he wants to share a specific insight that makes his chances of McIlroy bullish.

“Last week I sat down with Rory and we had lunch, we were chatting and I said, ‘Rory, I know you’re ready for Augusta. Tell me how you’re going to play the golf course.” “We’ve been through the shooting. He finished the game and I didn’t open my mouth. I said, ‘Okay, I won’t change anything. That’s exactly how I try to play the golf course.”

He means attacking when you are in place and performing well when you are not there. Simple formula, but not always easy to execute – certainly not in this golf course’s ghost, the weight of history lurks in every corner.

“I think Rory lacks discipline,” Nicklaus continued. “He’s all the shots. He has all the games. He’s certainly as talented as anyone in the game. But if you look, go back to see his history, he’s been to a lot of places over the past few years, and 8 or 7 times pops up, which keeps you from getting where he needs to go.”

Actually, McIlroy hasn’t scored 7 points in the Masters since 2013, when he scored 2 holes in five holes (third round, 11 and 15, on the way to 77), he never scored 8 points. But he has scored enough 6s in the last 10 Masters competitions, and he has scored 17 in the last 10 Masters competitions, and he knows the importance of Augusta National damage control very well.

“I’ve been preaching for a whole year, but just manage my game and minimize my mistakes,” McIlroy said Wednesday after the third stroke. “If I get myself out of the way, get myself back to the same state. As long as I’m very smart and very logical and rational about everything. If I can do it for four days, I feel like I’ll have a big chance.”