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  "path": "/2026/04/07/very-difficult-rory-mcilroy-issued-stern-warning-ahead-masters-title-defence-27852281/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-07T05:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
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    "Rory McIlroy",
    "The Masters",
    "Ryder Cup",
    "dramatic play-off victory against Justin Rose twelve months ago",
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  "textContent": "Rory McIlroy is seeking to defend the Green Jacket (Picture: Getty)\n\nFormer Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes a number of factors will make it ‘very difficult’ for Rory McIlroy to defend the Masters this week.\n\nMcIlroy returns to Augusta National as the defending champion after his dramatic play-off victory against Justin Rose twelve months ago, which saw him end a decade-long major drought and complete the career Grand Slam.\n\nThe Northern Irishman will now seek to become just the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods, but comes into this week off the back of an understated start to the season.\n\nMcIlroy has recorded just one top-ten finish on the PGA Tour so far this season, while a back injury, which saw him withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, has surely affected his preparation.\n\nAnd McGinley believes that those issues, as well as the extra requirements put on McIlroy as the defending champion, will make it that bit more difficult for the 36-year-old to defend his crown.\n\n‘I think it’s off, to be honest,’ McGinley said when asked about the state of McIlroy’s game ahead of Thursday’s first round. ‘I don’t think he’s primed the way he was this time last year, coming off wins at The Players and Pebble Beach.\n\n‘Obviously, the injury has derailed him a little bit. I think it’s going to be very difficult, and it always is, to defend around Augusta. I think Rory’s concentration levels will be tested because of the activities that go on as the defending champion.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy analysis and breakdowns of the biggest football stories directly to your inbox.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nOnly three players have successfuly defended the Masters (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Not just the dinner, but I think he’s going to be around wearing his green jacket around the property for a few days, and may have to go up earlier than he would normally do.\n\n‘There’s a lot of stuff that goes on as defending champion, and it’s a good problem to have, and I’m sure he’s delighted with it. But I don’t know if it’s going to drive him into a top-level performance.’\n\nAsked to expand upon why it has proven so difficult to defend the Masters, McGinley added: ‘I think human nature more than anything else. I’m only observing this, but I think you come back on site and you’re in a very happy place in your own head.\n\nMcIlroy won the Masters in dramatic fashion 12 months ago (Picture: Getty)\n\nBut fellow Irishman Paul McGinley believes it will be a tall order for McIlroy to repeat the feat this week (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘There’s a sense of pride. There’s a sense of happiness about you. There’s a sense of excitement. You’re hosting this amazing dinner on a Saturday night. You’re wearing a green jacket around the property. Everybody’s shaking your hand and is happy to see you.\n\n‘People want a bit of your time, and it lends itself to being a great place as a human being and a very memorable place as a human being.\n\n‘But I’d make a very strong case that that’s the opposite mindset you need in order to be a winner for the tournament that week.’\n\nIf not McIlroy, then who does McGinley fancy to win? ‘You look through the names, and the really top player that I think is trending towards a big performance is Xander [Schauffele],’ the Irishman noted.\n\n‘And the guy I quietly like is Bob MacIntyre. Left-handers have had a lot of success around there. He’s a guy now with a couple of top-10s in majors last year, as well as a big finish in The Players a few weeks ago, and is trending towards doing something really big in the game.\n\n‘I think it’s a matter of time before he wins a major championship.’\n\n**_Watch more live Masters coverage than ever before, exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW from Thursday 9 April._**\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\n\n\n\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "‘Very difficult’ – Rory McIlroy issued stern warning ahead of Masters title defence"
}