Rory McIlroy’s master preparation includes driver adjustments, elbow therapy

Rory McIlroy arrives at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open, hoping to fill his confidence cup in the final tuneup ahead of the 2025 Masters.

The four-time main champion has won two titles on the PGA Tour this season. McIlroy thinks he is now a more complete player, which is a requirement for statistics backup.

McIlroy played the first round at Memorial Park this week, but ended his Masters Prep 65-64 on the weekend. Final preparations included adjustments to the driver, which McIlroy made in a race after the third round on Saturday.

“I just took a little bit,” McIlroy said Sunday after the final round. “So, I felt it got a little spin, especially if I wanted to open the t-shirt, so I took a little bit of the attic. Yes, it’s definitely going to be better today and feel more comfortable.”

McIlroy won’t play at the Valero Open, Texas next week. Instead, he will work hard to dial the game at home and head to the Augusta Nationals for another match in the green jacket.

“Still I feel like I have some work to do,” McIlroy said of where his game is going to be in the Masters. “Still don’t think my game is definitely 100% I want, but it’s nice to have a week of work.

Master Prep’s final week will also include some stage work. McIlroy told NBC Sports’Kira K. Dixon that his right elbow “disturbs him” and he will be treated at home within a week to make sure it’s OK before the Masters.

Northern Irish travel to Augusta Country early this week Assess any adjustments to the coursee. The journey to Augusta was routine, but Hurricane Helen knocked down 16 green fruit trees during her visit.

“The loss of a few trees is definitely obvious,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “But just they had to remake that green thing, but it was exactly the same as it was. The holes would play – except for the loss of green trees at the end of the day, the holes were leaking, but other than that, it was almost the same.”

McIlroy’s ability to “manage his own game” and “his missed” has been the key to his Jesling game this season. The curriculum management of this cut is the product of McIlroy’s mentality shift after watching World One Scottie Scheffler attack course.

He knows what it takes to win in Augusta National. Next week, McIlroy will be fine-tuning his game as he hopes to break the major drought that is currently entering his 11th year.

“So, this week, looking forward, it’s as comfortable as I’m with what I’ve been working on, it’s iron drama, wedge,” McIlroy said. “Obviously, the short game is also very, very important. It’s also important around Augusta. You know, they’re going to deal with these things over the next few days, and hopefully I feel good there.”