{"id":5880,"date":"2026-04-07T06:20:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5880"},"modified":"2026-04-07T06:20:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:20:58","slug":"rory-mcilroy-issued-stern-warning-ahead-of-masters-title-defence-very-difficult-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5880","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy issued stern warning ahead of Masters title defence: ‘Very difficult’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rory McIlroy is seeking to defend the Green Jacket (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes a number of factors will make it \u2018very difficult\u2019 for Rory McIlroy to defend the Masters this week.<\/p>\n

McIlroy returns to Augusta National as the defending champion after his dramatic play-off victory against Justin Rose twelve months ago, which saw him end a decade-long major drought and complete the career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n

The Northern Irishman will now seek to become just the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket after Jack Nicklaus,\u00a0Nick Faldo, and\u00a0Tiger Woods, but comes into this week off the back of an understated start to the season.<\/p>\n

McIlroy has recorded just one top-ten finish on the PGA Tour so far this season, while a back injury, which saw him withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, has surely affected his preparation.<\/p>\n

And McGinley believes that those issues, as well as the extra requirements put on McIlroy as the defending champion, will make it that bit more difficult for the 36-year-old to defend his crown.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think it\u2019s off, to be honest,\u2019 McGinley said when asked about the state of McIlroy\u2019s game ahead of Thursday\u2019s first round. \u2018I don\u2019t think he\u2019s primed the way he was this time last year, coming off wins at The Players and Pebble Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Obviously, the injury has derailed him a little bit. I think it\u2019s going to be very difficult, and it always is, to defend around Augusta. I think Rory\u2019s concentration levels will be tested because of the activities that go on as the defending champion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Only three players have successfuly defended the Masters (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Not just the dinner, but I think he\u2019s going to be around wearing his green jacket around the property for a few days, and may have to go up earlier than he would normally do. <\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s a lot of stuff that goes on as defending champion, and it\u2019s a good problem to have, and I\u2019m sure he\u2019s delighted with it. But I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s going to drive him into a top-level performance.\u2019<\/p>\n

Asked to expand upon why it has proven so difficult to defend the Masters, McGinley added: \u2018I think human nature more than anything else. I\u2019m only observing this, but I think you come back on site and you\u2019re in a very happy place in your own head. <\/p>\n

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McIlroy won the Masters in dramatic fashion 12 months ago (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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But fellow Irishman Paul McGinley believes it will be a tall order for McIlroy to repeat the feat this week (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018There\u2019s a sense of pride.\u00a0There\u2019s a sense of happiness about you. There\u2019s a sense of excitement. You\u2019re hosting this amazing dinner on a Saturday night.\u00a0You\u2019re wearing a green jacket around the property. Everybody\u2019s shaking your hand and is happy to see you. <\/p>\n

\u2018People want a bit of your time, and it lends itself to being a great place as a human being and a very memorable place as a human being.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018But I\u2019d make a very strong case that that\u2019s the opposite mindset you need in order to be a winner for the tournament that week.\u2019<\/p>\n

If not McIlroy, then who does McGinley fancy to win? \u2018You look through the names, and the really top player that I think is trending towards a big performance is Xander [Schauffele],\u2019 the Irishman noted.<\/p>\n

\u2018And the guy I quietly like is Bob MacIntyre. Left-handers have had a lot of success around there. He\u2019s a guy now with a couple of top-10s in majors last year, as well as a big finish in The Players a few weeks ago, and is trending towards doing something really big in the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018I think it\u2019s a matter of time before he wins a major championship.\u2019<\/p>\n

Watch more live Masters coverage than ever before, exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW from Thursday 9 April.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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