The season-opening Dubai Desert Classic turned out to be an eventful affair, especially for Rory McIlroy. A 4-time major championship winner, he was involved in the ‘teegate’ controversy that swept through the event before he let his golf do the talking. The 33-year-old won in his first start to the season, which sets him up nicely for an important year ahead. And the mindset could be key, according to Paige Spiranac, in McIlroy’s quest to win the only major championship left in his trophy cabinet, the Masters title.
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Paige Spiranac believes controversy keeps McIlroy on his toes
The social media star recorded her first podcast of the new season in continuation to her popular podcast series, ‘Playing a Round with Paige’. In the span of a month, there have been headlines in the golf circuit, which kept Spiranac talking.
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Among those was McIlroy’s rollercoaster ride at the Dubai Desert Classic, which he eventually won by dire margins. The Brit golfer was adamant about not making anything out of the ‘teegate’ controversy, even claiming it was “a storm in a teacup” in one of his press conferences.
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 23, 2022; Ridgeland, South Carolina, USA; Rory McIlroy plays from the fourth tee during the final round of THE CJ CUP in South Carolina golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
But according to Spiranac, such incidents led to the best of McIlroy, which could be beneficial in his bid to claim the Masters. “And so anytime there’s any type of controversy, and I think that is why I keep saying this at the Masters, it’s going to be a true test that Rory is going to shine because you know, he’s going to be extremely vocal, as he always is,” Spiranac said about McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy could win Masters with a “lot of talk”
Spiranac added that McIlroy’s regular media interactions, in which he has been susceptible to dropping major stories, force him to back things up for the good. “And his press conference before the tournament even starts… I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of talk with the players,” she continued on her podcast.
“And I think he’s going to use that as motivation to come out on top because he always plays well, when he has something that’s kind of like pushing him to like, get it done.”
McIlroy has won three of the four major championships in golf already. He emerged victorious in the 2011 U.S. Open, his first major, before winning the 2012 PGA Championship. 2014 was a highly successful year for the Brit, as he secured both the 2014 Open Championship and the 2014 PGA Championship.
Will McIlroy win the 2023 Masters Tournament and claim the elusive career grand slam? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Manaal Siddiqui