Mason Howell may have missed the cut at The Masters, but playing alongside Rory McIlroy for two rounds at Augusta National clearly provided an experience he will not forget.
Howell certainly did not disgrace himself on his Masters debut this week. The 18-year-old finished nine over par for the week, five shots away from making the cut.
Of course, he ended up having the best seat in the house for one of the most impressive performances Augusta National has ever seen.
Mason Howell reacts to playing alongside Rory McIlroy at The Masters
Rory McIlroy now boasts the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history after moving to 12 under par on Friday. The Northern Irishman made six birdies in seven holes to conclude his round.
There was a special moment on the 18th green, with McIlroy spending a little longer to have a word with Howell. It was quite clear that he was providing words of encouragement.
And speaking after the round, Howell explained what McIlroy said to him, as well as how the defending champion treated him during the tournament.
“Yeah, we chatted a decent amount, and he’s such a nice guy. Yeah, I mean, that was such a special moment for me to play with my idol. I mean, yeah, other than making the cut for me, that was everything I dreamed it would be,” he said.
“Rory was awesome. He said, ‘I hope to see you down the line’. We’ll play some practice rounds coming up. So couldn’t have been more thankful to be paired with Rory this week and how much I learned from his game.”
What impressed Howell most about Rory McIlroy
McIlroy could have hardly been more impressive over the first two rounds at The Masters.
There was a question over how he would fare with the pressure of winning the Career Grand Slam now off. The job is not done, but he has put himself in a phenomenal position.
And Howell suggested what impressed him most about McIlroy’s game after playing alongside him.
“He bandages his game really well. He has like a six-shot lead, I think. So that’s crazy. He just knows where to miss it around here,” he said.
“I mean, now he has all the weight off his shoulders. He’s playing so carefree, and I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t get it done this weekend.”
As things stand, it is extremely difficult to imagine anyone stopping McIlroy retaining his title. He is six shots clear of an outstanding chasing pack.
There are likely to be some bumps in the road before he gets across the line for a second time in as many years. But McIlroy is clearly relishing the spotlight this time around.
He is proving why many would pick McIlroy out as the most talented player of his generation.
