Rory McIlroy has reportedly delayed his arrival at Augusta next week and plans to skip the popular par 3 contest as he feels the start of the major 'drags too long'.
There is arguably no golfer - other than Tiger Woods - who has a bigger spotlight on him heading into the Masters tournament over the past decade than McIlroy.
It's become synonymous with the Northern Irishman's career given how many missed opportunities he's had to win his maiden green jacket.
He's finished in the top-10 in seven of his last 10 trips to Augusta and had one of the most infamous final-round collapses back in 2011.
Rory McIlroy has made changes to his Masters preparations
GETTY
But McIlroy heads into this year's Masters under a cloud given his struggles to find form on the PGA Tour.
He's failed to finish higher than tied 19th through five tournaments and ranks outside the top 100 for strokes gained in approach shots to the green.
McIlroy usually takes the week off before the Masters to get himself ready for the rigours of playing Augusta and the pressure that comes with it.
But the 34-year-old is taking a completely different approach to the 2024 edition, starting with playing the week before the Masters.
It's only the second time in the past decade that McIlroy has played a tournament the week before the Augusta major.
And he's also making some changes in the days before the first round of the Masters it seems.
According to Golfweek, McIlroy won't be arriving at Augusta until late on Tuesday and has opted out of playing the popular par 3 contest.
The report claims McIlroy was filmed by Netflix cameras last week while playing a round with Keegan Bradley and explained to the American that he felt the start of the major 'drags too long'.
McIlroy will take to the course in San Antonio this week in the hope of finding some kind of form he can take into Augusta.
Rory McIlroy is yet to finish inside the top-10 on the PGA Tour this year
GETTY
Two-time US Open champion Andy North feels the biggest need for McIlroy is getting his iron play back to where it once was.
"I happened to walk with Rory the last three rounds at The Players," North said on ESPN's media call.
"His iron play this year has not been anywhere near to his standard.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Rory McIlroy has had plenty of near-misses at the Masters
GETTY
"He had a great day with his irons on Thursday that week, and he thought he'd gotten over the hump. He'd struggled all year long with it.
"That's concerning to me only -- and I think that's one of the reasons he's playing this week.
"He wants to see if what he's been working on the past couple weeks is what he wants to do."
