Rory McIlroy began his champions press conference at the Masters not with an answer, but with a question: “What are we going to talk about next year?”
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RoryMcIlroyfinallyachievedacareergrandslamafterwinningthe2025Masters.–HarryHow/GettyImagesRoryMcIlroybeganhischampion’spressconferenceattheMastersnotwithananswer,butwithaquestion.
Addressingthehundredsofsportswriterswho’vebeencoveringhisprofessionalcareeroverthelast17years,heextendedhisarmsinhisnewgreenjacketandasked:“Whatarewegoingtotalkaboutnextyear?”
Forsomanyyears,theprevailingnarrativeaheadofmanyMasterstournamentshasbeenthatthiscouldbeRory’syear.
Thisweek,becausehehadmadehisbest-everstarttoaPGATourseason,itfeltasthoughthiscouldreallybeMcIlroy’syear.
Buteverytimeanybodyelsethoughtitwouldbehistime,thatonlyratchetedupthepressureonamanwhohasfamouslybattledhisowndemons.
“You’vehadJack(Nicklaus),Gary(Player),Tom(Watson),Tiger(Woods),younameit,allcomethroughhereandsaythatI’llwinTheMastersoneday,”hesaid.
“Theseareidolsofmine,and
