{"id":1555384,"date":"2023-03-27T17:37:57","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T21:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1555384"},"modified":"2023-03-27T17:38:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T21:38:00","slug":"rory-mcilroy-cost-lucas-herbert-spot-the-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/rory-mcilroy-cost-lucas-herbert-spot-the-masters\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy Cost Lucas Herbert a Spot at The Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
While Rory McIlroy may not have won the final edition of the WGC-Match Play<\/a> event, it was still a solid week for the Northern Irishman. For one, he had the shot of the tournament<\/a> with a ridiculous 376-yard drive on the par-4 18th hole at Austin Country Club<\/a>, one that essentially gave him a tap-in eagle and won him his second-round match with Denny McCarthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That was one of six wins for McIlroy on the week against one loss, that defeat coming in a 19-hole instant classic with Cameron Young in the semifinals. But Rory bounced back on Sunday afternoon with a 2 & 1 win over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in the third-place match, earning him a $1.42 million check. In addition, McIlroy overtook Jon Rahm in the Official World Golf Ranking and now sits in the No. 2 spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While Rory obviously wanted to win, he has to be thrilled with how he played, given that he put a new driver and a new putter into play. He'll now turn all his attention toward The Masters<\/a>, where he'll once again attempt to complete the career Grand Slam<\/a>, and he'll undoubtedly be one of the favorites in a stacked field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, however, that field at Augusta National won't include Lucas Herbert, who played brilliantly at the WGC-Match Play but lost to McIlroy in the Round of 16. And it was that loss that would keep Herbert from teeing it up at The Masters for a second straight year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming into the WGC-Match Play, Lucas Herbert was ranked 56th in the OWGR<\/a> and needed a good week to get himself into the top 50, which would secure his spot at Augusta for the second straight year. As the 27-year-old Australian doesn't meet any of the other criteria for an invitation, getting into the top 50 was his only path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And he certainly did his part to get out of the group stage, going 3-0 with victories over Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton, and Ben Griffin. And his reward for that stellar play? A date in the Round of 16 with Rory McIlroy. <\/p>\n\n\n\nRory McIlroy cost Lucas Herbert a spot at The Masters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n