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Rory McIlroy ‘wasn’t in awe’ of Dustin Johnson during 2020 Masters win

Published 10:45 6 Apr 2022 BST

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"I wasn't in awe of the way he played."

Rory McIlroy gave an underwhelming account of playing with Dustin Johnson during his Masters win, ahead of the 2022 Masters commencing on Thursday. The four-time major winner detailed his preparation to reporters for this year's tournament in Augusta, Georgia. McIlroy reminisced on the 2020 Masters with no fans as he played alongside Johnson who scored a record 20-under par to win a green jacket.

Rory McIlroy describes playing with Dustin Johnson at Augusta.

McIlroy, reluctantly, detailed the secret to be successful whilst playing on the Augusta golf course. The Northern Irish man recalled playing with Johnson during the first two days of his Masters win in 2020, saying he "wasn't in awe of the way he played." McIlroy highlighted the two-time major winner's ability to do "the right things" consistently throughout the week, which led to him winning a green jacket. "It feels like a very negative way to think, but it's the way to play around this place. You don't have to do anything spectacular," McIlroy told reporters.

"I played with D.J. (Dustin Johnson) in the first two rounds when he won here in 2020. I think he was 12-under after two days, and I got off the golf course thinking I don't really feel like 12-under is a helluva score after two days here, but I wasn't in awe of the way he played. "It's just he did the right things and he put it in the right spots and he held a few putts and he took advantage of the par-5s, and he basically did everything that this golf course asks of you."

McIlroy analyses the Augusta golf course.

McIlroy described the Masters as a "chess game." The 32-year-old registered six career top 10 finishes at Augusta, including three in the last five years. He emphasised the need for discipline and patience when playing the course, as he aims to win his first green jacket. "That's what this place is all about. It's as much of a chess game as anything else," McIlroy added. "It's just about putting yourself in the right positions and being disciplined and being patient and knowing that pars are good, and even if you make a couple of pars on the par-5s, that's okay, and you just keep moving forward."