Rory McIlroy has labelled The Masters as the No 1 Major despite his long-running winless history at Augusta National.
For years, the debate has raged not only ‘across the pond’ but around the globe as to which of golf’s four is ‘the one’. Now the Northern Irishman has made his feelings known and isn’t afraid of potential backlash.
‘The Masters has become the biggest golf tournament in the world, and I’m comfortable saying that,’ McIlroy said ahead of this week’s Wells Fargo Championship.
Chasing the final leg of the career slam, McIlroy shot 74 to fade quickly from contention before Patrick Reed went on to claim his first Green Jacket.
As it stands, 2018 will go down in a similar chapter to McIlroy’s 2011 meltdown where his score ballooned on the back nine that fateful Sunday. Despite his rocky history, which left him in a funk this year, The Masters remains the No 1 Major in his mind.
‘I don’t care about the US Open or the Open Championship, it’s [The Masters] the biggest tournament in the world.
‘It is the most amount of eyeballs, the most amount of hype, the most amount of everything is at Augusta.’
McIlroy tees it up at Quail Hollow, the site of last year’s PGA Championship, this week as he looks to add a third win at the venue which, unlike Augusta, has almost always treated him well.
Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
