Masters 2026: No, Rory McIlroy and his private jet trips to Augusta National don't give him an unfair advantage
Some have suggested McIlroy has an unfair advantage by playing practice rounds at Augusta ahead of the Masters.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — After Rory McIlroy charged to a six-shot lead at the halfway point of the Masters , he attributed much of his success around the greens to being “on this golf course so much the last three weeks,” including a couple of day trips in which he dropped his daughter off at school, flew here on his private jet and returned home in time for dinner. “I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it,” McIlroy said.
For some commenters on social media, particularly those who don’t follow golf closely, having access to Augusta National before tournament week seems like an unfair advantage: Why should McIlroy have the opportunity to play practice rounds before everybody else? No wonder he’s running away with this thing! Here’s the reality, though: Scouting trips before all major championships are — pardon the pun — par for the course.
It’s something McIlroy has talked about publicly before nearly every Masters, including the first 16 times he played here and didn’t win. It’s also an opportunity every player in the field gets to take advantage of if they choose to. Though the club’s rules are purposely opaque, every player in the field is allowed to visit Augusta before the tournament week and play practice rounds.
Numerous reports over the years suggest that anyone with a Masters invitation can arrange to play the course twice or more often if they are invited by a member. Not every player chooses to take advantage of it. Saturday's Round 3 of the Masters will be Rory McIlroy's 65th tournament round at Augusta National.