Rory McIlroy has opened up about returning to Augusta National for the first time since winning the Masters and shared a wish he hopes to fulfill alongside Tiger Woods. The Northern Irishman said the visit felt different now that he is a Green Jacket winner and part of golf’s most exclusive group.
McIlroy ended his long wait for a Masters title in April defeating Justin Rose in a playoff to claim his fifth major championship. The win also completed his career Grand Slam putting him in the same company as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods.
Speaking on The Shotgun Start podcast, Rory McIlroy revealed a personal goal he hopes to achieve as a Masters champion.
“The one thing I want to do is I want to get the four of us that are living, Jack, Gary, Tiger, myself, and do a picture at Augusta next year with our green jackets on.”
McIlroy said he returned to Augusta shortly after flying in from Australia marking his first visit since winning the Masters. He also spoke about seeing his place in the champions’ locker room for the first time. Describing his experience McIlroy said:
“It’s a pretty small place, so it’s got to the point where you have to share your locker with people,” McIlroy said.
“I shared with Ben Hogan and Ray Floyd, so it’s pretty cool. But it is a different feeling when you go back and you’ve won there. I feel like when you’re not a champion, you get on, it’s like you don’t quite belong.”
McIlroy added that he has taken the Green Jacket with him to India, Australia and back home to Northern Ireland even wearing it on Halloween. However, he noted that there are strict rules that come with having the iconic jacket in his possession.
Rory McIlroy explains the rules that come with wearing the Green Jacket
Rory McIlroy recently shared a lesser-known detail about what Masters champions must do before taking the Green Jacket away from Augusta. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, McIlroy revealed that champions are required to complete paperwork before the jacket can leave the club.
“You have to sign a legal document to take it out of the club,” he said. (via Golfweek)
While the reigning Masters winner is allowed to keep the Green Jacket for one year, Rory McIlroy explained that wearing it also comes with strict guidelines.
“There’s do’s and don’ts with it. You have to wear a certain shirt, and you have to wear a club tie, and certain trousers, you only wear dress shoes. You can’t wear trainers. You can’t just throw it on, go for the bevy,” McIlroy explained.
The rules have been in place for decades. Gary Player, who won the Masters in 1961 once took his Green Jacket home to South Africa and forgot to bring it back. He was later reminded by Augusta National officials that the jacket must stay at the club, according to PGA.com.
