Rory McIlroy, the 36-year-old golfer, competed at Augusta National.
McIlroy’s Playing Partner at the Masters
McIlroy played the first two rounds alongside U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. Howell is 18 and not yet in college.
McIlroy reflected on the age difference. “Mason was born, what, 2005?” McIlroy asked before correcting himself. “No, 2008.” (Howell’s birthday is actually June 28, 2007.) He then shook his head.
McIlroy commented on the span of time and the nature of golf. “I just think about the time span,” McIlroy added. “That’s why our game is so incredible. I’ve been lucky that the people that I looked up to took me under my wing when I was starting off. … That’s the incredible thing about golf that not a lot of other sports have.”
Poppy McIlroy’s Putter
McIlroy brought an extra club to Augusta National: his daughter’s putter.
Poppy McIlroy, 5, made headlines at last year’s Masters Par 3 Contest. She sank a 25-foot putt on the ninth hole using her dad’s putter.
“She is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl, and I really love that she started to get into the game a lot more, and it all stemmed from the putt last year at the Par 3,” McIlroy said. “She made sure that I brought her putter up this year so she could hit the putt with her putter and not mine. Yeah, that’s been amazing – and as well, just to see her grow up to have her travel the world to see different places, to give her a life that I could only dream about when I was that age, that’s been the coolest thing.”
A Nike Golf Ball’s Journey
Like Poppy McIlroy, Howell brought something extra special to the Masters.
When Howell was 9 years old and attending the Tour Championship, McIlroy tossed him one of his golf balls. Howell has kept that ball in his room ever since.
This week, he’ll carry it in his golf bag.
He is planning a prank for Thursday on the first tee. “I’m going to say I’m going to play the first hole with a Nike – which I’m not,” Howell said, laughing. “It says RORS on the side. But that would be a power move. But, yeah, that’s kind of the plan. Hopefully, it doesn’t get back to him before Thursday.”
McIlroy will play alongside Howell, who is carrying one of McIlroy’s old Nike golf balls.