McIlroy Loses Masters Direction

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Rory McIlroy admitted a poor finish to the third round had left him with little chance of completing his career grand slam in the Masters at Augusta.

McIlroy was six under par for his round after 15 holes but bogeyed the 16th and 18th and had to settle for a 68 to finish six under, with 36-hole leader Jordan Spieth showing no signs of coming back to the field.

"I'm going to need something basically around 61, 62 (tomorrow) to have a real chance. I'm not sure that's going to happen but we'll see," said McIlroy, who is looking to become just the sixth player in history to win all four major titles.

"I've really just tried to treat it like a normal golf tournament or treat it like any other year. Any other year that I've came to the Masters, I've done the same things.

"I wasn't approaching it like I was trying to win the grand slam. I was approaching it like I was trying to win another golf tournament. So I don't think it's really had any impact on the way I've played this week."

McIlroy feels like his knowledge of Augusta is improving with every round, although the bogeys near the end of his Saturday effort left him feeling a little flat.

He added: "I got off to a good start, sort of the way I wanted to play the front nine.

"I had not really played the front nine too well the last couple of days, so to play them under par was nice.

"I made a couple of good birdies on 13 and 15 so got it to eight under through 15 and then a disappointing finish. Overall I felt like I played pretty well and just a little disappointed the way I finished.

"I definitely feel like I play this golf course better and better every year that I come here. I just need to keep putting numbers up like I did today. I know I'm capable of it. Just a few stretches of holes have held me back and that's really been the case this year again."

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McIlroy Will Win Masters - Clarke

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Darren Clarke says Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy will win at Augusta one day, which would complete a career Grand Slam for his 25-year-old compatriot.

The world No 1 will arrive in Georgia in early April hoping to claim victory in the only major to elude him so far.

He will also tee-up at the Masters keen to make it three major triumphs in a row – following his successes last summer in the Open and PGA Championship.

Just five golfers have won each of the big four titles – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods – and, according to Clarke, McIlroy will join this illustrious group at some stage during his career.

Since winning the PGA title last August, McIlroy’s sole victory came in Dubai during February and Clarke told Sky Sports News HQ: “Rory’s the sort of player who can win anywhere, any time.

“He started this year well in the desert, and then went to the States where he hasn't quite found his full game yet.

“But it’s only a matter of time before he wins at Augusta – whether it’s this year, next year, whenever. His game is ideally suited to playing a high, long draw which you need at Augusta.”

And Clarke is hoping Tiger Woods makes 'a welcome return’ to competitive action at the year’s first major championship.

He added: “It would be great to see Tiger at Augusta. The game misses him, we want him back out there, playing well on Tour.

“All the players want Tiger back. He’s set the benchmark for a long, long time when he was the best of the best. I believe he’s got a lot of great golf left in him and any event in which Tiger plays makes it more special.”

Woods, who turns 40 later this year, failed to post a top-10 throughout 2014, has not won a tournament for 19 months and last secured a major in 2008.

On a personal note, Clarke says he intends to play a full schedule during 2015 before focusing his attention on skippering the European Ryder Cup team.

“This year I will be predominantly playing. The points for qualifying will start mid-to-late September, so from that stage I’ll be keeping a closer eye on things," he said.

“So my playing schedule will be limited next year.”

He also believes that his form has improved recently because he has other things on his mind – such as the Ryder Cup captaincy – and is therefore not preoccupied with his own game.

Clarke said: “The honour of being awarded the captaincy means I’m thinking a little bit less about my own game.

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Clarke Putts Masters Weekend

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Darren Clarke fires a second successive round of two-over-par 74 at the Masters at Augusta after what he described as a "grind it out sort of day" to make the cut at +4.

The 2011 Open champion says he did not strike the ball as well as he did in his opening round on Thursday, but salvaged his score with some better work around the greens.

The Northern Ireland player posted three birdies and five bogeys in Friday's second round.

Clarke is playing in his 500th European Tour event, a milestone which was marked by a presentation from European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady earlier in the week.

A birdie three at  the eighteenth ensured a weekend stay at Augusta for the first time in three appearances since 2007.

Clarke said: "I've been swinging it well recently but didn't take full advantage of some decent play on Thursday.

"I hit a few loose shots today but, for the most part, ground it out well."

"Chipping is so difficult around here, you're always going to leave yourself putts of six to eight feet to save par and I made my share today, which is satisfying."

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Masters Could be Fuzzy - GMAC

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Graeme McDowell believes a rookie could burst from the pack and win this week's Masters for the first time since Fuzzy Zoeller's shock victory on his Augusta debut in 1979.

With Tiger Woods absent injured, the tournament is expected to be one of the most open for years andNorthern Ireland's McDowell would not be surprised to see some of the game's lesser lights stealing the limelight.

"Some of the rookies today have a great chance," McDowell said in his BBC column.

"I played with Harris English a few weeks ago at Bay Hill. There's a kid making his Augusta debut and if he was on the leader board come the weekend I would not be shocked.

"He's long, hits his irons very high, very cool, and has a good short game and putter.

"You know he's got the tools to win around Augusta. These young players are just so well equipped nowadays.

"They are better athletes and they're fearless. They're growing up in an era where they've watched Tiger Woods do things with a golf ball that seemed impossible."

First-timer Zoeller famously won the 1979 Masters but it has not happened since at a tournament which usually ends with a big-name champion.

"The belief level globally now for a young professional is so much better than it used to be," McDowell said.

"The Zoeller-type first-time, rookie champion could happen in any of the majors now - this one included.

"It could be an amazing week for the game, with one of the new breed making a name for himself and coming out of the shadow of Tiger.

"He has taken the game to new heights but with him absent there's a real chance for someone else to take the headlines."

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