The roar’s back in Rory

RORY McILROY arrived in Augusta after his best performance of the year and roared: I’m back in business.

He may have been pipped to the Valero Texas Open by Martin Laird’s flying finish, but he insisted finishing second had given him a huge confidence boost.
And after a wretched campaign since his £78million move to Nike, the young Northern Irishman believe he is ready to challenge for a third Major title.
McIlroy, 23, said: “I didn’t quite get the win, but that was down to Martin shooting an incredible final round of 63.
“Sometimes you just have to put your hands up and say the other guy deserved it more.
“But apart from that, everything that I wanted to accomplish this week, I succeeded in. It was definitely a case of mission accomplished.
“I feel really good going into The Masters, both about my game and my confidence level, which is pretty high now.
“The way I played throughout the last week was great. I feel like I’m in really good shape going into the first Major of the year, which is how you want to feel.
“I don’t feel like I can have any complaints about not winning in Texas — I shot 66 in the last round, which was the second best score of the week, and I just got beaten by the better guy on the day.
“I enjoyed the week, and there were a load of positives to take from it. I’m pleased I decided to add it to my scheduled because I feel tuned up for Augusta now.
“I went into my last couple of tournaments more in hope than expectation, but that isn’t the case any more. I feel really sharp again.
“It doesn’t take long to turn things round. You just need something good to happen and you’re off and running again — at least that is the case for me.
“I’m looking forward to this week. It’s a course that I’ve played well on before, even if things didn’t work out for me in the end.
“I know if I prepare well I can shoot some low scores.”
This is not the first slump McIlroy, 23, has had to deal with in his short career.
He famously recovered from his back-nine collapse at the 2011 Masters by romping to a record-breaking victory in the US Open two months later.
And after a series of missed cuts and dismal performances in the middle of last year, he bounced back to win the USPGA by eight shots, and also finished top of the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.
He now finds himself being questioned again after being replaced as world No 1 by a resurgent Tiger Woods, who has won his last two warm-up events in dazzling style.
But McIlroy insists he is happy to take the occasional lows as long as the highs keep coming.
He explained: “Things seem to happen to me, things that generate headlines. That’s not a bad thing.
“I don’t want to compare myself to anyone, but if you look at Phil Mickelson, that’s why so many people are drawn to him.
“He’s either way up or he’s down. Those highs and lows make him seem more real, less like a machine.
“That’s why the public loves Ronnie O’Sullivan too.
“They see the human in him, because everybody has good days and bad days.
“Now, I hope I’m not as extreme as Ronnie or some others.
“But I do feel as if there will always be highs and lows in my career.
“We always go on about consistency but I always stop and think: ‘What if I finished 10th every week?’
“I’d make a great living, be in all the great events — but it’d be pretty dull.
“I’d never get that feeling that I’ve beaten everyone there is to beat that week, that incredible buzz.
“I know it doesn’t have to be a trade off, but all I’m saying is that if I have to take the down moments to experience those huge highs, then I’ll take them, sure.”
Meanwhile, former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie reckons this week’s Masters is the last-chance saloon for Lee Westwood’s Major hopes.
His fellow Brit has two European Order of Merit wins and hit the world No 1 spot in 2010 and 2011 — but has never bagged one of golf’s ‘big four’.
And Monty insists the pressure is on Westwood to land the Green Jacket before his 40th birthday later this month.
Monty, 49, said: “You have to say time is running out.
“Very few players win or get better in their 40s. He has moved to America to try and get this elusive Major but putting pressure on yourself is not easy and I think he has tried very hard.”
Monty, who also missed out on Major glory, added: “All credit to him for trying to improve the short game because from tee to green he is as good as anybody.