Rory McIlroy has been tipped to struggle at the 2025 Masters by broadcaster Brandel Chamblee, who claims that the prestigious tournament “brings out the worst” in the Northern Irishman
08:48, 04 Apr 2025Updated 08:48, 04 Apr 2025
Rory McIlroy is yet to win at the Masters(Image: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
Brandel Chamblee has made the bold claim that Rory McIlroy’s worst performances in golf tend to occur during the Masters.
The prestigious tournament will tee off again at Augusta National Golf Club next Thursday and fans are buzzing with anticipation to see McIlroy maintain his stunning season’s form on the iconic greens of Georgia. The golfer, aged 35, has triumphed twice already on the PGA Tour in 2025, seizing victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and just last month, coming out on top at the Players Championship.
Despite this, Chamblee, while speaking on an NBC conference call on Tuesday, inferred that McIlroy might hit a rough patch at The Masters based on past patterns. He opined: “To continue this Devil Wears Prada theme going a little bit further, I would say that Augusta National is the Miranda Priestly to Rory McIlroy’s Andrea Sachs. It is literally his nemesis.
“It brings out the worst golf in Rory annually that we see. It was his worst golf last year in the majors, his worst the year before, two years before that it was his worst golf. He annually underperforms there.
“He hits on average about 42 greens. On average, the winner hits about 52. There are things about that golf course that have been very problematic for him.”, reports the Mirror US.
Reflecting on the intensity of competing in one of golf’s most iconic events, he added: “You can’t just act like this is any other golf tournament. It is not like any other golf tournament. For a lot of the golf world, it is the single most important four days they will have, so it’s not like every other golf tournament.
“But at the same time, you cannot allow yourself the luxury of looking ahead. Just look at the last six years, what Rory has done in the first round. The winner here averages sixth place after the first round. Rory has shot 71, 72, 73, 76, 75, 73 the last six years to begin the Masters. That’s mostly mental.”
Brandel Chamblee says that Augusta National is Rory McIlroy’s nemesis(Image: 2019 Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)
As McIlroy continues his quest for a coveted green jacket, having clinched two PGA Championships, a US Open and an Open Championship, the Masters remains the elusive achievement yet to be added to his impressive tally. While gearing up for the challenge, McIlroy acknowledged a concern that could affect his game.
Speaking with The Golf Channel, the golf star said: “My right elbow has been bothering me a little bit so I’ll maybe just get some treatment on that and make sure that is OK going into Augusta. I’ve got my coach Michael Bannon coming in [on Monday], we’ll do some work and make sure everything is in good shape for a week’s time.”
The Northern Irish golfer hasn’t clinched a major title since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, but he’s aiming to complete the prestigious modern Grand Slam – joining the ranks of legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen in doing so. Despite the weight of expectation, golf icon Phil Mickelson has meanwhile backed McIlroy’s ability to handle the pressure, saying: “That’s challenging, but he’s done it so many times in his ability to win tournaments.
Rory McIlroy has been in fine form this season(Image: Getty Images)
“He’s been able to compartmentalize that. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for him.” McIlroy’s record at the Masters shows seven top-ten finishes across 16 appearances, with a T22 finish last year alongside Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, and Patrick Cantlay.
His closest brush with the coveted green jacket was a runner-up spot in 2022, just three strokes behind the then World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The Masters is set to unfold from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13, where McIlroy will once again chase the dream of completing his collection of major titles.
