McIlroy hoping to learn from St Andrews experience
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First round Masters leader Rory McIlroy is hoping that his experiences in the Open at St Andrews last year will stand him in good stead to challenge for the Green Jacket this week.
The Northern Irishman shot an opening 63 before falling away with a second round 80 at St Andrews last year and will he believes he can use what he learnt from that experience to build on his fantastic opening 65.
“I think it will be a massive help to me. Obviously, at the time I was very disappointed to come off the course and shoot 80 after shooting 63. But looking back on it, it was a very valuable lesson in my development as a golfer.
“I’ll be thinking about it and I’ll be thinking about how I can do things better tomorrow than I did that day in St Andrews.
“It’s possible that I can go out and shoot another 65, but I know it’s also very likely that I’m not going to do that. So if I do find myself in a bit oif trouble, I’m going to have to stick in there and grind it out. That’s something that I feel as if I learnt to do at St Andrews.
“I feel as if I’m playing really well, so hopefully it doesn’t happen and I can go out and shoot another good score.”
McIlroy will be teeing off at 5.42pm BST on Friday.
