Rory McIlroy confident of overcoming The Masters hurdle at Augusta

Rory McIlroy has conquered many golf courses and tournaments around the world. However, success at Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters has somehow eluded him.

The world No 2 may not show it, but it does bother him. For instance, he is well aware of the record that two recent Hero Dubai Desert Classic champions have gone on to win The Masters the same year.

Asked if he has done things differently this year as he tries to complete his career grand slam, McIlroy said: “Obviously, I played in Dubai at the start of the year, and that’s actually been a pretty happy hunting ground for a future Masters Champion.

“I think Danny Willett won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2016 and won the Masters, and I think Sergio won it in 2017 and went on to win the Masters. It would be nice to emulate them.”

Not that McIlroy is doubting his own talent, or clutching at straws. But it is rare for him to be looking at coincidences.

A little later, McIlroy was asked if he was surprised that despite experts thinking his game was tailor-made for Augusta National, he hasn’t succeeded here yet.

“But they said the same thing about Ernie Els and Greg Norman,” countered McIlroy.

“Just because a place is deemed to be perfectly set up for your game, it doesn’t automatically mean that you’re going to win it one day. There’s more to it than that. There have also been players that you would think this golf course wouldn’t set up well for, and they have won a green jacket.

“It’s a factor and it's nice to know that I come back to this place every year and that if I played the way I know I can, then I should have a good chance. I know if I can get myself in with a chance to win, then those last couple hours on Sunday, it’s not about whether the course sets