Rory McIlroy Credits Augusta Homework and Nicklaus Blueprint for Successful Masters Defence

Rory McIlroy has revealed how a deliberate, focused preparation regimen at Augusta National — one that bordered on the unconventional — powered him to a second consecutive Masters victory, cementing his status among the all-time greats of the game.

Rather than testing himself in PGA Tour events in the weeks leading up to the Masters, McIlroy chose to stay at Augusta, fine-tuning his，熟悉每一个果岭和每一个拐角。He even produced a stunning spell on the front nine during one practice round, carding 29 while playing with just a single ball — a testament to the precision and confidence he was building.

Speaking after his one-stroke victory over Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy explained the thinking behind his approach. "I joked last week that this place feels like my home course," he said. "I haven't played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks really. I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss. I'm pretty comfortable with all the shots around the greens."

The blueprint, McIlroy revealed, came from conversations with Jack Nicklaus. The 18-time major winner shared his own philosophy of simulating tournament conditions in the week before a major — playing four rounds with a single ball, shooting scores, replicating the pressure of competition. "That's a good way to prepare going into the next majors," McIlroy said. "When he got to the tournament, it felt second nature to him."

The win, McIlroy's sixth major overall, places him in rare company. He now stands alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as only the fourth player to have successfully retained the Green Jacket. With the weight of the career grand slam now firmly in his rear-view mirror after last year's breakthrough, McIlroy suggested the psychological burden has lifted considerably.

"I was glad last year that the whole grand slam thing was done, because that was what I was chasing," he said. "And now going forward, everything is icing on the cake or a cherry on top, all gravy." He added that this mindset allows him to approach upcoming majors — at Aronimink, Shinnecock Hills and Royal Birkdale — with far less tension and far more freedom.

Runner-up Scheffler, meanwhile, offered measured comments on the setup at Augusta, particularly the softness of the course on Friday afternoon when McIlroy birdied six of the closing seven holes. "I would have liked it to have been a little bit more equal in terms of the firmness on Thursday and Friday," Scheffler said. "I was a bit surprised at how soft things were on Friday afternoon, especially as it got late in the day. But the weather also changes and it was a bit windy on Thursday, so who knows. That's part of the game."