Golf May 01, 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

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

The world's best disabled golfer, Kipp Popert, has made his debut appearance on the DP World Tour, teeing up at the Austrian Alpine Open after the G4D...

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

Kipp Popert: World's best disabled golfer makes DP World Tour debut at Austrian Alpine Open, after G4D Tour is put on ice

The world's best disabled golfer, Kipp Popert, has made his debut appearance on the DP World Tour, teeing up at the Austrian Alpine Open after the G4D...

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau has admitted to putting extra pressure on himself to perform in the majors and insisted he is ‘giving all he can’ to help the LIV Go...

Charles Schwab Challenge: Field, format, prize money as Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark withdraw from PGA Tour event

Charles Schwab Challenge: Field, format, prize money as Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark withdraw from PGA Tour event

Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from this week's Charles Schwab Challenge, meaning he won't be able to qualify for next week's Signature Event at the Memo...

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Wyndham Clark comes from behind to beat Si Woo Kim and Scottie Scheffler to win fourth PGA Tour event

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Wyndham Clark comes from behind to beat Si Woo Kim and Scottie Scheffler to win fourth PGA Tour event

Wyndham Clark came from two shots behind to end a two-year wait to win a PGA Tour event at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, outlasting both Si Woo K...

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau 'very optimistic' over LIV Golf's long-term future and explains how pressure caused major missed cuts

Bryson DeChambeau has admitted to putting extra pressure on himself to perform in the majors and insisted he is ‘giving all he can’ to help the LIV Go...