{"id":1554920,"date":"2023-03-23T13:01:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T17:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1554920"},"modified":"2023-03-23T13:01:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T17:01:44","slug":"rory-mcilroy-discovered-secret-weapon-finally-propel-masters-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/rory-mcilroy-discovered-secret-weapon-finally-propel-masters-glory\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy May Have Discovered the Secret Weapon to Finally Propel Him to Masters Glory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rory McIlroy<\/a> would do anything to put a green jacket on his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Northern Irishman still needs a Masters<\/a> title to complete the career Grand Slam, which would etch his name alongside Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen in the golf record books. A green jacket is the missing puzzle piece he needs to complete his legendary resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

McIlroy knows his prime years won't last forever, so he's begun his Masters prep a few weeks early this season. Just recently, the 33-year-old added a new putter to his bag in an attempt to “rekindle an old flame,” and rekindle he has. Based on the early results, McIlroy should be the man to beat at Augusta National Golf Club<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rory McIlroy switches putters two weeks ahead of the Masters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Rory
Rory McIlroy lines up a putt on the ninth green during the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club | Mike Mulholland\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Equipment changes are fairly standard for PGA Tour players, but not right before a major championship. Professional golfers want to feel as comfortable as possible with the clubs in their bags leading up to the most important events on the schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Rory McIlroy<\/a>, his confidence level in the flatstick wasn't where it needed to be, so he switched from his TaylorMade Spider Hydro Blast to a new\u00a0Scotty Cameron Newport GSS ahead of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. In layman's terms, he changed from a mallet putter to a blade putter two weeks ahead of the Masters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blade isn't a foreign design to McIlroy. He won the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, and 2016 Tour Championship with a Scotty Cameron blade putter in his bag, and he's hoping the switch brings him similar success at Augusta National next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World No. 3 has been using his mallet putter with a SuperStroke grip for at least a year, and it powered him to four wins and a FedEx Cup title dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season. However, his putting stroke has gone ice-cold over the last few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although his ball-striking numbers are off the charts, McIlroy currently ranks 173rd on the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained from putting. He also ranks 195th in putting from inside seven feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That's not going to cut it at Augusta, so McIlroy decided to shake things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has Rory McIlroy found the secret weapon in his quest to conquer the Masters?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Confirmed: Rory McIlroy's Scotty Cameron Newport GSS is a new putter \u2014 not one he's used in the past. (The \ud83d\udc4d stamp is now on Rory, JT and Scottie's putters, if you're into that sort of minutiae.)

Told myself and @AndrewTursky<\/a> that he's trying to "rekindle an old flame." pic.twitter.com\/z6zXQwD2jh<\/a><\/p>— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) March 21, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>