Rory McIlroy entered the history books on Sunday by becoming only the fourth golfer ever to successfully defend the Masters title, yet his triumph at Augusta National has sparked fierce debate among fans.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman faced immediate backlash after revealing the extent of his pre-tournament preparation at the iconic Georgia venue.
McIlroy acknowledged that he had spent weeks practising at Augusta in the lead-up to the major, taking full advantage of rules that grant past champions unrestricted access to the course.
The controversy centres on whether this level of preparation gave him an unfair edge over competitors who lack such privileges.
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The now six-time major winner justified his approach by explaining his distaste for the events preceding the Masters, withdrawing from three consecutive tournaments to focus solely on Augusta.
"I honestly just don't like the three tournaments leading up to this event," McIlroy told reporters.
He described a routine that balanced intensive preparation with family life, revealing he would drop his daughter Poppy at school before flying to Georgia for practice rounds, returning home in time for dinner.
Rory McIlroy entered the history books on Sunday by becoming only the fourth golfer ever to successfully defend the Masters title, yet his triumph at Augusta National has sparked fierce debate among fans
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"The more time I could spend up here, the better," he said.
When questioned about potential unfairness, McIlroy was unapologetic, stating that Augusta had begun to feel like his home course after avoiding other venues for nearly three weeks.
He added: "I joked last week and going into this week, this place feels like my home course. I haven't played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks really. I felt prepared in that way. I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss."
Social media users were quick to voice their displeasure at McIlroy's tactics, with some labelling his victory among the least deserved in Masters history.
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Rory McIlroy was jubilant after winning the Masters for the second year in a row | GETTY"Rory literally played Augusta every day for a month straight before the tournament. How is this allowed?" one fan wrote.
Another critic argued that while McIlroy had not violated any regulations, he was "EXPLOITING the existing rules" to gain an advantage over the rest of the field, calling for the policy to be reformed.
"Everyone should admit this is unfair," the fan added, suggesting the unlimited access had created a widening competitive gap.
However, critics failed to acknowledge that runner-up Scottie Scheffler, himself a former champion, enjoyed identical access rights to the course.
McIlroy explained that his preparation philosophy was influenced by conversations with golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, who advocated arriving at major venues a week early to simulate competitive conditions.
Rory McIlroy embraced his father after making history at the Masters | GETTY"He would simulate a tournament. He'd play one ball for four days, shoot scores so that when he got to the tournament it felt second nature to him," McIlroy said of Nicklaus's method.
The Northern Irishman adopted a similar strategy, playing practice rounds with a single ball and recording scores rather than simply surveying the layout.
"I felt prepared that wherever I hit it on the golf course, I sort of know what to do. I know where to miss," he explained.
While ruling out taking three weeks off before every major, McIlroy endorsed early arrival and genuine competitive simulation as an effective blueprint for future championships.