“If I Get Itchy Feet at Home…” Rory McIlroy Keeps Masters Build-Up Flexible After Disappointing Players Championship Finish

Mar 16, 2026, 1:30 PM CUT

GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy looks on after teeing off on the 3rd hole during round three of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 6, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251206197727143457

Rory McIlroy's road to the Masters has hit a bump. After a disappointing finish at The Players Championship, he is leaving his pre-tournament schedule open. McIlroy is waiting to see if he gets 'itchy feet' before committing to another event.

During the Sunday press conference at the Players Championship, McIlroy was asked whether the week had given him enough preparation.

“I’ll see. I haven’t really made a decision either way. I’ll see how my body feels. We’ll see how I feel in practice and at home, and if I get itchy feet at home, maybe add an event at some point. I feel like it was important to make the weekend here and play an extra couple of days.”

February 22, 2026, Pacific Palisades, California, USA: Rory McIlroy approaches hole 18th during Round 4 of the 2026 Genesis Invitational Golf Tournament on Sunday February 22, 2026 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Pacific Palisades USA - ZUMAp124 20260222_zaa_p124_314 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx

The uncertainty follows a challenging week at The Players Championship, where McIlroy finished tied for 46th at even-par 288. In his defense, McIlroy was also managing a back issue that had forced him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational the previous week.

He shot a 74 and 71 to make the cut, followed by a 72 and 71 on the weekend. Statistically, one part of his game stood out during the week. McIlroy ranked third in the field in strokes gained off the tee, showing control with the driver across the tournament. The scoring, however, was affected on the greens, where he lost more than five strokes putting over four days.

His final round followed a similar pattern. McIlroy signed for a 1-under 71 on Sunday with four birdies on the card. The round began with a double bogey on the opening hole before he recovered over the remaining holes to close the tournament at even par.

Rory McIlroy Certainly Wants Another Masters Win

Speaking about the next step in his preparation, Rory McIlroy said, "But yeah, really just see how the next week goes, see how once I get back to actually a full practice schedule and in the gym and stuff like that, see how my body reacts to that, and then I’ll see.”

Trending slideshow: Inside the Bag That Took Down Rory McIlroy, Jacob Bridgeman’s Winning Gear Revealed

Eknoor Juneja Inside the Bag That Took Down Rory McIlroy, Jacob Bridgeman’s Winning Gear Revealed

7. TaylorMade Qi35 LS Driver — Jacob Bridgeman adjusted his 10.5-degree driver down to 10 degrees for a lower, more piercing flight. Finding narrow fairways was vital to holding off Rory McIlroy, and this big stick kept his ball speed elite. via TaylorMade Golf

Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green Shaft — Aerospace-grade carbon fiber in this stiff shaft gave the young pro amazing stability. It allowed him to swing aggressively without worrying about the ball spinning too much. Every drive stayed on a tight, powerful line. via TaylorMade Golf

6. TaylorMade Qi4D Fairway Woods — Replacing his old mini-driver with a 16.5-degree 4-wood gave Bridgeman more options off the grass. These new woods helped him hit those long, high-launching shots needed to stop the ball on Riviera’s firm, fast greens. via TaylorMade Golf

Custom 7-Wood Specifications — Lower spin was the main reason Bridgeman chose this 21-degree wood for his winning bag. It performed perfectly on the tricky 10th hole, giving him the exact shot shape he needed to navigate the challenge. via TaylorMade Golf

5. TaylorMade P7CB Irons — Switching from his usual blades to cavity-back irons gave Bridgeman a much softer feel at impact. These clubs moved smoothly through the turf, helping him lead the field in approach shots throughout the week. via TaylorMade Golf

Precision Loft Adjustments — Bending his irons back to standard specs was a clever move to match his new golf ball. This change ensured his shots hit the right window in the air to stop near the pins. via TaylorMade Golf

4. TaylorMade P770 and UDI Irons — A mix of a 12-year-old driving iron and a modern 5-iron covered his long-distance needs. He added the P770 model specifically because it launched higher and landed much softer on the difficult par-5 holes. via TaylorMade Golf

The Long Iron Strategy — Performance came before matching looks for this champion, as he used 3 different iron models. These specific tools helped him stop the ball quickly on hard surfaces that usually punish even the best players. via TaylorMade Golf

3. TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 Wedges — Sharp, saw-milled grooves on these wedges kept the spin high even when things got stressful. Bridgeman relied on the special face technology to control his short game while his massive lead started to shrink. via TaylorMade Golf

Precision-Milled Sole Grinds — Milled soles eliminated the guesswork from his equipment, providing a consistent feel on every chip. This reliable craftsmanship was essential when he faced a scary bunker shot on the 16th hole on Sunday. via TaylorMade Golf

2. TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter — Bridgeman used a mallet putter that actually feels like a classic blade thanks to its short slant neck. It provided the stability he needed to sink high-pressure putts when his hands felt completely numb. via TaylorMade Golf

The — A simple white dot marked with a Sharpie was the only aid Bridgeman used to aim. This clean look helped him launch putts perfectly at 2 degrees, mastering the bumpy afternoon greens. via TaylorMade Golf

1. TaylorMade TP5x Golf Ball — Switching to this faster ball added 3 mph of speed to his drives during the offseason. More importantly, the extra spin gave him the control he needed to beat the world’s best players. via TaylorMade Golf

The Winning Ball Switch — Confidence soared once Bridgeman found a ball that stopped exactly where he wanted on firm greens. This final equipment change was the secret weapon that helped him outlast the legends and claim his trophy. via TaylorMade Golf

His decision will shape his final preparations for the Masters.
The tournament is scheduled from April 9 to April 12 at Augusta National Golf Club, where McIlroy will arrive as the defending champion. His presence this year carries added significance because the 2025 edition marked a milestone in his career.

That breakthrough came a year ago when McIlroy won the 2025 Masters after a playoff against Justin Rose. The victory completed the career Grand Slam and placed him among a small group of players to achieve it, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar