TEXAS — Rory McIlroy never considered entering the Texas Open the week before the Masters until caddie JP Fitzgerald suggested it.
Reuters
McIlroy thought about it over lunch after his second round at the Houston Open on Friday and sent Fitzgerald a text message saying he thought it was a good idea.
Last year, McIlroy missed two straight cuts and made a late commitment to play in the St Jude Classic the week before the US Open. He tied for seventh in Memphis, then missed the cut at The Olympic Club.
He seemed encouraged after shooting a 71 in the Houston Open on Saturday. But he’s completed only 11 competitive rounds this year and agreed with Fitzgerald that he would benefit from another tournament heading to Augusta.
His commitment to San Antonio forced him to cancel a two-day humanitarian trip to Haiti, where he was going to meet with children and families affected by the 2010 earthquake. McIlroy is an Ireland ambassador to UNICEF and travelled to Haiti in 2011, before winning the US Open at Congressional, his first major championship.
McIlroy made “a few tough phone calls” to organisers on Friday to inform them of his change in plans.
