Augusta National is set to have some teeth at the 2026 Masters.
The golf course has been baked in the Georgia sun with not a drop of rain to speak of all week long. It’s expected to play firm and fast, and as the week progresses, it will only become more difficult.
That’s a stark contrast to what we’ve seen in recent years. Augusta hasn’t played easy by any stretch, but the winning score has hovered at around 14-under par for the past few Masters. This year, the score could well be in single digits.
And after playing practice rounds at Augusta all week, Rory McIlroy has sent out a warning about the course after what he’s noticed out there.
Rory McIlroy says The Masters will be a ‘mental grind’ due to conditions
McIlroy won The Masters at -11 par last year, but judging by the conditions, that score might not be reachable in 2026.
Speaking the day before the tournament, the reigning champion said, “Just executing my game plan, being free in my swing and in my thoughts. It’s going to be a tough test this week. The wind is going to be up tomorrow.
“The greens are going to get firm. It’s certainly not going to be a birdiefest. It’s going to require patience. It’s going to require more of a mental grind, maybe.
“This place is always that way, but I think even more so, going to get wind swirling. You’re going to be indecisive. So the more I can be decisive and be trusting in what I’m doing, that’s what I’m going to need to do.
Rory McIlroy says how his preparation has been for this year’s Masters
McIlroy’s preparation for The Masters this year has been completely different from any other season of his life, and that’s led many to rule him out of contention. For the first time, he doesn’t start the tournament with pressure heaped on his shoulders, and his approach to the event reflects that.
First, he was injured at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and therefore hasn’t played for three weeks before The Masters. Usually, he takes no more than a week off.
His week has been filled with the responsibilities of a reigning champion. He attended the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, played the course with his dad, and hosted the Champions’ Dinner. It’s safe to say he’s not been laser-focused.
But McIlroy said he’s still worked hard to get his game in the right shape, and is confident he can lock in when needed.
He was asked about how his preparation has been this week, and McIlroy responded, “It’s been a little bit of a mix of business and pleasure, I would say. I’ve prepared.
“I tried to do a lot of my work in the weeks leading up here in terms of the work I did at home, the trips that I made up here to prepare and get familiar with the course again.
“And the few days this week, playing with my dad on Sunday, you know, the Champions Dinner last night, it’s been a very different, I guess, lead-in to this tournament for me, but one I’ve enjoyed immensely.
“And I’m just going to try to keep enjoying my week, but I know to do that I just have to go out there and play good golf, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Maybe McIlroy will play far better without the immense amount of pressure, and become the first back-to-back Masters winner since Tiger Woods.
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