McIlroy Vows to Improve for Masters Victory

Rory McIlroy has stated that he needs to improve his game if he is to successfully defend his Masters title on the final day, after surrendering a six-shot lead during the penultimate round. McIlroy began strongly with rounds of 67 and 65, setting a record lead at the halfway stage, but a one-over par 73 on Saturday left him level with Cameron Young on 11 under. He struggled with iron accuracy, hitting only 10 of the 18 greens in regulation, and made three bogeys along with a double bogey at the 11th. Speaking after his round, McIlroy acknowledged that he did not have his best game, saying, "I knew today wasn't going to be easy. The quality of the chasing pack was very obvious, and a lot of the guys went out and played superb golf." Despite his lackluster display allowing several notable players into contention, McIlroy remains confident in his chances of retaining the title, saying, "I still have a great chance. I'm in the final group, which is exactly where you want to be. I wish I had a little bit more of a cushion, but I'm going to go to the range here and try to figure it out. I'll need to be better tomorrow." McIlroy's victory last year marked the end of an 11-year major drought and the completion of a career Grand Slam. He believes that having won last year and playing in a different final group will aid his chances, saying, "I'd like to think that I'll play a little bit freer and I'll play like I've already got a green jacket, which I do." Sky Sports Golf's Rich Beem thinks McIlroy's resilience will enable him to put the disappointment of losing his lead on Saturday behind him, saying, "He's got such a great mindset to just forget, forget exactly what happened the day before, or even two or three holes ago. He's not afraid to fail. He's failed a lot in his career. He's hit some horrible shots. But, you know what, he comes back time and time again, and that's why he's our defending Masters champion."