Rory knows role patience will play in quest for career slam
AUGUSTA—Thunderstorms are forecast to disrupt the start of the 88th Masters at Augusta National on Thursday as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Rory McIlroy tee off in a dream first-round pairing.
Rain and scattered thunderstorms are set to move into the region at around 6 a.m. local time and are expected to last until 1 p.m., potentially causing havoc to the first round schedule, which will test the patience of the history-chasing McIlroy.By taking the green jacket, McIlroy would join a select group including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only players to ever win all four of golf’s major titles. McIlroy has not won a major in 10 years, but has learned he needs patience at Augusta National.“This golf course gets you to chase things a little more than other golf courses,” McIlroy said. “It always tempts you to do something you think you can do and I’m pretty confident in my golf game. I think I can do most things.
“Sometimes you just have to take the conservative route and be a little more disciplined and patient.”
Scottie to do a Tiger
Meanwhile, Scheffler, who won twice and finished second last month in Professional Golfers’ Association events, could join Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while atop the rankings.
“The winds are going to be pretty high and it swirls like crazy around this place,” he said. “You have to stay so patient and trust in all aspects of your game.”
Fifth-ranked Xander Schauffele completes the star-studded group and hopes to lose the tag as the highest-rated player without a major title.
“It’s definitely what motivates me as a golfer and as a competitor just to keep pushing,” Schauffele said of a major victory.
The featured trio is scheduled to tee off at 10:42 a.m., 12 minutes after Spain’s defending champion Jon Rahm, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and 20-year-old American Nick Dunlap. —AFP
