{"id":103429,"date":"2026-04-10T18:47:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/why-rory-mcilroy-brought-extra-putter-to-masters-and-why-his-old-nike-ball-is-in-another-players-bag\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T18:47:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:47:37","slug":"why-rory-mcilroy-brought-extra-putter-to-masters-and-why-his-old-nike-ball-is-in-another-players-bag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/why-rory-mcilroy-brought-extra-putter-to-masters-and-why-his-old-nike-ball-is-in-another-players-bag\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Rory McIlroy brought extra putter to Masters, and why his old Nike ball is in another player’s bag"},"content":{"rendered":"

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AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2013 Rory McIlroy brought one extra club to Augusta National this week: his daughter\u2019s putter.<\/p>\n

Poppy McIlroy, 5, garnered headlines at last year\u2019s Masters Par 3 Contest by sinking a 25-foot putt on the ninth hole. Making the feat even more impressive, she did so using her dad\u2019s flatstick.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl, and I really love that she started to get into the game a lot more, and it all stemmed from the putt last year at the Par 3,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cShe made sure that I brought her putter up this year so she could hit the putt with her putter and not mine. Yeah, that\u2019s been amazing \u2013 and as well, just to see her grow up to have her travel the world to see different places, to give her a life that I could only dream about when I was that age, that\u2019s been the coolest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

And if he didn\u2019t already feel old, the 36-year-old McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell, who is 18 and not even in college yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cMason was born, what, 2005?\u201d McIlroy asked before correcting himself. \u201cNo, 2008.\u201d (Howell\u2019s birthday is actually June 28, 2007.) He then shook his head.<\/p>\n

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The 36-year-old Northern Irishman designed this year\u2019s Champions Dinner menu and wine list, as is the responsibility of the reigning champion. He\u2019ll also speak to his fellow Masters winners.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI just think about the time span,\u201d McIlroy added. \u201cThat\u2019s why our game is so incredible. I\u2019ve been lucky that the people that I looked up to took me under their wing when I was starting off. \u2026 That\u2019s the incredible thing about golf that not a lot of other sports have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Poppy McIlroy, Howell brought something extra special to the Masters. When Howell was 9 years old and attending the Tour Championship, McIlroy tossed him one of his golf balls. Howell has kept that ball in his room ever since, though this week, he\u2019ll carry it in his golf bag.<\/p>\n

He revealed he\u2019s also planning a harmless prank for Thursday on the first tee.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to say I\u2019m going to play the first hole with a Nike \u2013 which I\u2019m not,\u201d Howell said, laughing. \u201cIt says RORS<\/i> on the side. But that would be a power move. But, yeah, that\u2019s kind of the plan. Hopefully, it doesn\u2019t get back to him before Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n