[Masters] Will the 'Career Grand Slam' Happen This Time?

McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam with Victory
Sixth PGA Tour Milestone Achieved
Skipping Par 3 Contest, Fully Committed to This Tournament

The stage of dreams unfolds. This refers to the 'Masters of Masters' tournament. This year, it kicks off on the 11th (local time) at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. The Masters is the world's greatest big match that needs no introduction. The strongest players, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) and defending champion Jon Rahm (Spain), are set to compete. Above all, the focus is on whether the 'Career Grand Slam' will be achieved. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is challenging an incredible record. It would be the sixth such milestone in golf history.

Lorie McIlroy challenges the sixth-ever 'Career Grand Slam' in Masters 2024.

McIlroy is a 'golf prodigy' comparable to the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA). At age 2, he showcased his genius by driving 40 yards with a driver, and at age 5, he led the European team to victory in the Junior Ryder Cup. At age 10, he made headlines by sending Woods a bold letter saying, "I am coming to catch you." He turned professional in 2007 and rose to global stardom by winning the 2009 DP World Tour (European Tour) Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy mainly competed on the DP World Tour before also joining the PGA Tour in 2009. He amassed 17 wins in Europe and 24 wins in the United States. He demonstrated outstanding skills in major tournaments. He captured his first major title at the 2011 US Open. In August 2012, he won his second major at the PGA Championship, and in 2014, he built a golden record by winning back-to-back majors at The Open and the PGA Championship. He became the third player, after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods (both USA), to win three majors before the age of 25.

Tiger Woods is the fifth person in history to achieve the 'Career Grand Slam'.

Originally, a 'Grand Slam' refers to winning all four major championships in a single year. Bobby Jones (USA) achieved the Grand Slam only once in 1930. At that time, the four majors included two amateur tournaments (US Amateur and British Amateur), which differs from today. Woods completed a streak of four consecutive major wins with the 2000 US Open, The Open, PGA Championship, and the 2001 Masters. This feat coined the term 'Tiger Slam.' Only five players have achieved the Career Grand Slam, winning all four different majors over their careers: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan (both USA), Gary Player (South Africa), Jack Nicklaus (USA), and Woods.

What remains for McIlroy is the 'Green Jacket.' Winning the Masters would complete his Career Grand Slam. He has put considerable effort into winning the Masters. Right after winning The Open in 2014, he hurriedly requested a practice round from Jeff Knox (USA), a member of Augusta National. Knox is a 'master of Augusta,' having shot an incredible 11-under-par from the regular tees. In fact, during the third round in 2014, Knox accompanied McIlroy as a 'special marker' and posted 2-under-par, surpassing McIlroy's 1-under-par.

Rory McIlroy completes the 'Career Grand Slam' whenever he wears the green jacket.

In 2015, McIlroy secretly played a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club while traveling to the US for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Later that year, he underwent vision correction surgery to improve his putting on the Masters' 'glass-like greens.' He chose a 'cross-handed' putting grip with his left hand below, making a strategic move, but settled for a tie for 4th place. At that time, he watched bitterly as Jordan Spieth (USA) shot 8-under-par from the first day and achieved a 'wire-to-wire' victory.

In 2016, McIlroy hired Phil Kenyon (England), Henrik Stenson's (Sweden) putting coach, for targeted lessons. In 2018, Brad Faxon (USA) was added as a putting coach. He finished tied for 10th in 2016, tied for 7th in 2017, and tied for 5th in 2018, sharpening his appetite.

Before this year's Masters, Rory McIlroy sought help from Butch Harmon (left), the former coach of Tiger Woods.

For McIlroy, 2002 remains the most regrettable year. On the final day, he fired an 8-under-par daily best, showing great momentum but had to settle for second place. He made an eagle with a '2-on 1-putt' on the 13th hole (par 5) and added six birdies, demonstrating tremendous power, but was stopped by Scheffler's wall. Last year, he suffered the humiliation of missing the cut.

This year, McIlroy is challenging for his 16th Green Jacket. Recently, he sought help from Butch Harmon (USA), Woods' former coach. Harmon is the world's top instructor who has coached Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson (all USA), among others. McIlroy's approach to the Masters is unique. He plans not to come to the course until Tuesday during the tournament week and intends to skip the Par 3 Contest held on Wednesday. This is to focus solely on the Masters competition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.