2024 Masters: Top 10 power rankings at Augusta National

Is a final-round, bogey-free 66 last week at the Valero Texas Open enough to get the Rory McIlroy hype train going?

His performance vaulted him up to a solo third-place finish at TPC San Antonio in his final Masters prep.

McIlroy hasn’t played poorly on the PGA Tour this season as evidenced by top-25s in all but one start. However, this was his first top-10.

He did win and finish T-2nd on the DP World Tour.

McIlroy now turns his attention to Augusta National, a place he reveres yet likely cringes thinking about given all the times he’s come up short.

His record at one of golf’s more hallowed grounds shows seven top-10s, all coming since 2014. The Northern Irishman’s best chance at a win didn’t come on any of those occasions, but rather in 2011 when he was the 54-hole leader before faltering on the back nine on Sunday to settle for T-15th.

McIlroy missed the cut last year (72-77) after taking solo second (73-73-71-64) in 2022.

“I'm very comfortable with this golf course. I think one of the great things about this course is it forces you to be creative and I like that side of the game,” ASAP Sports transcribed McIlroy before the 2019 Masters. “I like to see shots. I like to visualize. So you know, the massive tall pines, the contrast between the green grass and the white bunkers, the yellow flagsticks, there's so many, you know, so many things to look at and be aware of and it paints a picture for you.”

McIlroy is 14th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (1.052). His short game and putting statistics are what’s keeping a good season from being great.

He’s still striking the ball well. McIlroy is fourth in SG: Off-the-Tee (.858) and 19th in SG: Tee-to-Green (.933).