Masters 2015: I'm thinking about me, not Tiger Woods, says Rory McIlroy

As he prepares to launch his challenge for golf's Grand Slam, the world No 1 makes an honest assessment of his chances and the man who has stolen his limelight

Rory McIlroy takes shelter as the rain beats down during practice at Augusta National on Tuesday (Getty Images)

It comes to something when the man with the world at his feet is not the main event. Rory McIlroy could speak as he wished, wear brash fluorescent yellow if he pleased – and he did – because the individual who had just vacated his press-room seat was the box-office ticket.

Augusta still hummed to the reflections of Tiger Woods. The room was not even full to hear the boy from Holywood, Co Down, talk of taking the Masters and a career Grand Slam.

There’s no pretence from the 25-year-old that he doesn’t want those two accomplishments like hell. “My mind wanders to winning this tournament and what it might mean,” he admitted.

And there was no pretence that he intended to fuel the momentum of the Woods roller coaster, which has been powered by sentiment and morbid fascination here in the past two days. Yes, the two had embraced on the practice range today. Yes, of course McIlroy once had posters of Woods on his wall – “I did idolise him, really,” he admitted. But he could not agree with the suggestion that he had been “concerned” for the man to whom he famously dared write that letter to say “I’m coming to get you” 14 years ago, and has been as good as his word.

“Was I concerned for him?” McIlroy asked, searching for a respectful response to the question that had been put. “I mean, not really. It’s hard to be concerned for someone that’s won 14 [majors] and 80 PGA Tour events and earned over a billion dollars in his career. I think he’s done OK.”

McIlroy has seen enough to know that Woods has the capacity to write the story that everyone seems to want – “such a big story; Tiger coming back at the Masters after a bit of a lengthy period where he has not been around.”

Woods and McIlroy last January, during the Dubai Desert Classic (Getty) (Getty Images)

It was when they played a private round at this course together here at the back end of November, away from the hubbub and the 50,000-strong crowds, that he saw all he needed to know about Woods’ game. “I mean, he played great,” McIlroy said. “He birdied six of the first seven holes. He played really, really well.”

There are equally good omens for McIlroy. Half an hour after he had finished talking, the heavens opened up, drenching and slowing the course in a way which will only help him. His previous four majors have been won on courses softened by several days of rain.

But there are also the doubts which can drain a man at a moment like this.

For all the ebullience he has shown in the practice rounds these past few days, his record at this course deconstructs that gilded, romantic storyline about the mop-haired young Irishman becoming only the sixth player to claim a golf career Grand Slam. His best finish in six appearances here was eighth, last year. His one Sunday in contention, four years ago, ended in that infamous 80 after he had led by four.

The broader story is of McIlroy and the par-fives – holes that need patience, a five, six or seven-iron, and an easy, stress-free birdie. He is 21 under for the 88 par-fives he has played at Augusta and was at even par for those holes last year, while Bubba Watson, the winner whom McIlroy selected as his favourite for the title, came out eight under from the same holes. McIlroy lost to Watson by eight shots.

He will also know precisely what Woods’ own record for the par-fives looks like: 41 under par for 80 of them. “If I can just play the par-fives a little better, hopefully that will help me do better and obviously have a chance to win,” he said.

It is some ask, though, to take that deep breath and quell your reflective instinct to hit the optimum shot when you are standing on an Augusta tee, gazing down through the pines and the colour, and the adrenalin is coursing.

Consider the contradictions between what he said today and the advice he offered the teenage Scot Bradley Neil when they played 18 holes here together on Monday. “A lot of times you can question yourself, but if you’ve chosen a club, commit to it,” McIlroy told the 19-year-old. “Don’t doubt yourself at all.”

There was distinctly less sunshine in this McIlroy appearance than we are accustomed to – confirmation, it seemed, that the burden of expectation is heavy, despite the way Woods has deflected a little of it away from him.

The backstory of McIlroy has absorbed America – retold as it was at the weekend when the New York Times Magazine selected him as its window on the tournament.

The choice of vignettes from that piece was significant. McIlroy’s grandfather, Jimmy, the crane repairman from near the Belfast docks where the Titanic was built. McIlroy chipping golf balls into the open door of the family’s front-load washing machine – a skill he would later perform in 1999 on a popular TV talk show, with his parents sitting in the audience.

McIlroy led by four in 2011 - only to let the title slip from his grasp during a disastrous final round (Getty) (Getty Images)

But the source of all this fascination will feel like a rookie all over again come 10.41am local time on Thursday, when the Green Jacket request he has probably rehearsed mentally a hundred times – it would be a 38 regular – is a distinct hope.

It was difficult not to draw comparisons with the struggles that have assailed Woods when McIlroy described how “longevity, injury prevention, trying to prolong my career as much as I can” and, specifically, concerns for the state of his back, had led him to his weightlifting regime. And to draw the same parallel when he then talked about how ephemeral success in this sport can be.

“I’ve just really tried to key in on focusing on the next [tournament],” McIlroy said. “And, hopefully, if I do win my next golf tournament, my next major, the focus again will just be on the next one and just try to keep doing that.

“Because it is very important to stay in the moment and stay in the present, and you can’t get too far ahead of yourself. We’ve seen in the past what this game can do to people, and you see guys that look to be at the top of their game one minute and the next minute they struggle. Golf is a very fickle game.”

He was right. As sport gives, so it takes away. That’s why it is best not ask McIlroy to express pity for the man who is occupying his spotlight.

Augusta tee-off times: Woods forced to wait till late

Tiger Woods faces a long wait before he can free the tension in his shoulders at the first tee on Thursday. He has been drawn in the penultimate group alongside fellow American Jimmy Walker and Welshman Jamie Donaldson, teeing off at 6.48pm UK time.

Rory McIlroy has been drawn alongside three-time champion Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore at 3.41pm.

England’s Danny Willett will begin his Masters debut in the second group at 12.56pm, alongside 1987 winner Larry Mize and US amateur public links champion Byron Meth.

Selected first-round tee-off times

(US unless stated; all times BST)

1.29pm V Singh (Fij), D Clarke (Nl), R Henley

1.40 J-M Olazabal (Sp), B Todd, K Na (Kor)

2.02 P Reed, K Bradley, I Poulter (Eng)

2.13 M A Jimenez (Sp), A Lahiri (India), L Westwood (Eng)

2.24 B Watson, J Rose (Eng), G Yang (Kor)

2.35 A Scott (Aus), D Johnson, A Murdaca (Aus)

3.19 W Simpson, H Matsuyama (Japan), P Casey (Eng)

3.41 P Mickelson, R McIlroy (NI), R Moore

3.52 JB Holmes, M Kaymer (Ger), B Snedeker

4.03 I Woosnam (Wal), E Compton, M Leishman (Aus)

4.47 B Langer (Ger), B Wiesberger (Aut), G Ogilvy (Aus)

5.09 Z Johnson, J Furyk, E Els (SA)

5.20 A Cabrera (Arg), L Oosthuizen (SA), M Dominguez (Chi)

5.42 P Harrington (Ire), R Palmer, T Bjorn (Den)

6.04 M Kuchar, B Koepka, G McDowell (Nl)

6.15 H Stenson (Swe), J Spieth, B Horschel

6.37 V Dubuisson (Fr), L Donald (Eng), J Senden (Aus)

6.48 J Donaldson (Wal), T Woods, J Walker

6.59 J Day (Aus), S Garcia (Sp), R Fowler