Rory McIlroy will block out the “noise” of his latest bid to win the Masters by watching Bridgerton and reading a John Grisham novel. And the Ulsterman said it is “amazing” to be able to share his golfing life with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.
The Ulsterman was in a smiling, relaxed mood before teeing up at Augusta National in pursuit of his career Grand Slam. The Masters is the only Major missing from McIlroy’s resume – and he would become only the sixth man in golfing history to win all four.
Asked about the pressure of expectation, the world No.2 said: “It’s just narratives. It’s noise. It’s just trying to block out that noise as much as possible. I need to treat this tournament like all the other tournaments that I play throughout the year.
“Look, I understand the narrative and the noise, and there’s a lot of anticipation and buildup coming into this tournament each and every year, but I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job.”
McIlroy, who reported his right elbow was “good”, revealed he had watched The Devil Wears Prada before winning The Players Championships.
Before the Masters, he revealed: I’ve gotten into “Bridgerton” – I didn’t think I would. I was very against watching it, but Erica convinced me. So we’re on a bit of a “Bridgerton” kick this week, yeah.
“And I for the first time in a long time am reading a novel. I actually got some fiction into my life. It’s a John Grisham book. The Reckoning.”It’s got off to a pretty good start.”
McIlroy announced he was to divorce his wife Erica just before the US PGA before reconciling later in the summer. She and their daughter Poppy were in Dubai for his season-ending triumph at the DP World Tour Championships last November and they will both be here in Augusta.
Asked about Poppy, 4, now becoming part of his team, McIlroy said: Yeah, look, it definitely makes the lows a little easier to take.
“The highs are going to be high anyway, but it’s amazing — I think especially after The Players, I think it was the first time that she sort of realised what I did, which was really cool. Also a little scary at the same time.
“Yeah, look, it’s amazing that I can share these things with her and with Erica and — the day after ThePLAYERS, she went into school and there was a couple of kids that had said some stuff to her, and she came home to me that day and said, Daddy, are you famous?
“I said: ‘It depends who you talk to!’ It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. You have to temper the expectations sometimes. “As everyone knows that’s had children, it’s an amazing addition to life, and it’s great that she’s here this week.”
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