Is this the year that Rory McIlroy finally masters Augusta National? We’ve been here before, but Stuart Broad is keeping the faith.
For years, he’s been my pick at the US MASTERS. I’ve always felt there’s something about Augusta National that suits him — a trophy he deserves in redemption for his 2011 show of vulnerability, from which he learnt so much.
I’m not sure how I’m qualified to say that — I’ve never had the honour of heading down Magnolia Lane, and I had never met Rory McIlroy! But as sports fans, you’ll relate to this. We all have our favourites, those players we feel a sense of loyalty to. Rory was one of mine.
I vividly remember being down at The Kia Oval last August, working for Sky and covering a Test match. It was the final day, and the game finished just before lunchtime.
We wrapped up our closing link, and I checked my phone to see a message from Sophie at BMW, asking if I’d like to play with Rory McIlroy and Gareth Bale at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth. A quick double take, and I was replying to Sophie straight away to accept!
Then it dawned on me — we’d be teeing off from the 1st at Wentworth, in front of those big crowds! With the cricket finishing early, I headed straight to the range to get some practice in.
Two weeks later, we found ourselves driving through the front gates at Wentworth. Mum — still slightly disappointed we weren’t playing with her firm favourite, Justin Rose, again — my sister, and my dad formed the supporting party for the day.
Ben Stokes and I got onto the range early and were quietly warming up down at the far end when a big camera crew started heading our way. Walking up behind them was Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland, who put his bag down next to Stokesy. The quiet warm-up was over!
You suddenly got the sense that this was going to be a very different kind of Wednesday on the course.
Two minutes later, another crew arrived—this time following Rory. You suddenly got the sense that this was going to be a very different kind of Wednesday on the course.
The putting green was right next to the first tee, and we had the luxury of taking our time while other pros and amateurs were driven out to different parts of the course for a shotgun start. As the shuttles departed, the green suddenly emptied, leaving just me, the three Holland brothers, Tommy Fleetwood, Gareth, and Rory.
I’d met Gareth before; we’d both played at the Dunhill Links in 2023 and ended up sat next to each other on the flight up. As a football fan, I’d always admired his performances on the big stage, but it didn’t take long to realise we were both huge golf fans. We spent the whole flight talking about the game. Chatting to him on the range certainly helped calm my nerves.
Then Rory arrived with his caddie, Harry, introduced himself, and we were good to go. Or as good as you can be at 8 a.m., about to tee off in front of 5,000 people at Wentworth!
We had our team photos and were introduced onto the tee. I’d told my faithful caddie that I needed to swing slowly — to be able to get to the top of my backswing and say “Nottingham Forest” before coming down and hitting the ball.
As it happened, the nerves kicked in, and I probably only managed to say “Forest” before rushing the downswing. No disaster, though — just rough on the right. I’d got it in the air, and crucially, I hadn’t hit anyone!
Playing golf in front of these crowds, alongside the tournament favourite, was something else entirely.
I’d played in the event before, but never in front of crowds like this. It was an incredible experience. Playing in front of 90,000 at a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was something I could handle — I was doing what I was trained to do!
But playing golf in front of these crowds, alongside the tournament favourite, was something else entirely. We got into it quite quickly, though. I hit a solid shot on the second, which settled some nerves, and by the time we reached the third green, Rory had taken on most of my caddie’s duties and was reading my putts!
It was a great opportunity to pick Rory’s brain. We talked about a mutual love of wine, family, travelling, a bit of football—exchanging notes on Nottingham Forest and Manchester United — and, of course, some golf chat in between.
Both Rory and Gareth, who is a member at Wentworth, knew the course so well and were brilliant at sharing insights on where to aim.
As a fan, it was fascinating to see Rory go through his preparation ahead of a tournament. He was really engaged in our group and seemed just as focused on getting us to the top of the Pro-Am leaderboard as he was on his own preparations for the flagship DP World Tour event.
After four or five holes, the stewards kindly let Mum, Dad, and Gemma inside the ropes. Dad has always played, but Mum only picked up the game during Covid and is now arguably the biggest golf fan I know! Walking the fairways with them and letting them experience it too was really special.
We didn’t top the leaderboard, but it was 18 holes to remember.
The following day, I was due to be up at Trent Bridge for an England vs Australia ODI, but the Sky Sports Cricket team had caught wind of my round with Rory and Gareth and sent a crew down to film a few holes! Just when I thought the pressure couldn’t get any higher…
Thankfully, I hit a few decent shots while they were around. My only real worry was what Ian Ward, Michael Atherton, and Nasser Hussain might say on air if I’d shanked one on camera!
Coming down the 18th was something else — packed grandstands, and crowds six or seven deep along the fairway.
One of the Pro-Am rules allowed you to ask your pro to play one of your shots. I’d left myself a horrible chip over the greenside water on the left of 18, so I called Rory over to play it and spare me the trauma of attempting it in front of the hospitality patrons.
Rory hit it to about ten feet, but I couldn’t quite hole the putt to finish off a great day. We didn’t top the leaderboard, but it was 18 holes to remember. As it happened, Rory faced that same chip shot on the 72nd hole on Sunday night, needing an up-and-down to win the title — and fell just short.
Fast forward six months, and it’s US MASTERS time again. I’ve told myself not to bet with my heart these days, but to go with my head. And my head says Rory.
A great win at Pebble Beach earlier in the PGA TOUR season, followed by another victory ten days ago at THE PLAYERS, and he seems primed for Augusta.
It’s my favourite tournament of the year, and like many of you, I’m sure, I’ve got those four evenings firmly blocked out in the diary. Enjoy the action!
The guys at Fitzdares have given me a £500 free bet pot to use on a selection of the major sporting events of my choice. All the profits will go to The Broad Appeal, helping raise awareness and support for Motor Neurone Disease.
This month, I’m putting all my eggs in Rory’s basket…
£250 EW Rory McIlroy @ 6/1
The Masters, 10 — 13 April
Stuart Broad is Fitzdares’ Brand Ambassador.
