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Yep, Rory McIlroy.
He did it again. Love him or hate him, he’s a winner.
Only the 4th guy to ever win back-to-back Green Jackets.
This Sunday’s win had its drama, but in a much different fashion than 2025.
Last year when Rory won, I wrote about “pressure being a privilege”. Rory needed a Masters win to complete the career Grand Slam, which had eluded him for over 10 years. He had some pretty big collapses, including the Sunday he won it last year, where he blew a large lead and needed a playoff to win.
Ultimately, he embraced the pressure and got it done. But the pressure clearly got to him and wasn’t swinging the golf club with the utmost confidence at the time.
This year’s tournament was a little bit different.
The “pressure” was lifted.
I mean look at this photo of him getting his first jacket in 2025.
The fact that Rory hosted the Champions dinner before the tournament instead of always dreaming what it would be like to actually have a seat at the table, really set him up for a successful week.
After two rounds he held a 6-stroke lead, which was a record at the Masters for a 36-hole lead.
He played “free” for the first time in a long time.
Granted, Saturday he ran into some troubles shooting +1 for the day to make Sunday somewhat interesting.
Sunday was a shaky start letting the lead slip after a terrible 3-putt double bogey, but he likely reminded himself, he’s already a Masters champion.
He rebounded and controlled the lead the rest of the way.
On the 18th hole, his tee shot found the trees. But he remained calm and found a way to win the tournament.
I think if Rory had blown the 2025 Masters and lost in the playoff hole to Justin Rose, there would have been ZERO chance he had a 36-hole record lead this year and been able to calmly handle the moment behind a tree and get the victory.
The monkey was off his back.
The true powers of Rory McIlroy’s golf swing were able to be unlocked.
Happy for the guy, watching him collapse major after major was getting a little hard to watch. Not a huge Rory guy (go Team USA), but good for Rory.
So, today’s over exaggerated and stretched lesson from sports that you can apply to your everyday life…
TRY to get the monkey off your back.
Releasing pressure can come in many ways.
It doesn’t even have to be about winning or accomplishing some aggressive goal, like winning a Green Jacket.
It can be doing something that you’ve been putting off for a while. Maybe it’s late Sunday night and you’re just avoiding doing laundry.
Just do the fricken laundry. You’ll feel better.
Take out the damn trash.
Get your car inspected.
Small stuff.
Sure, you can be like Rory and hit a large goal that can set you up for the next level of success to come after that.
But it can be just a little monkey off the back that works, doesn’t need to be a gorilla. Something as large as the Masters.
But watching Rory McIlroy walk around Augusta this week, it’s fascinating to see the negative and positive impacts of pressure.
Do yourself a favor, embrace the pressure and when you accomplish your goals, use that momentum and to level up again.
Go win a Green Jacket, then do it again.
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