Rory McIlroy captured global attention on Sunday after winning The Masters for the second consecutive year, taking his major tally to six.
As one of golf’s four Grand Slams, the tournament often draws interest beyond the sport’s core audience, particularly during dramatic final rounds.
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That proved to be the case once again, with even NBA figures closely following events as they unfolded at Augusta.
JJ Redick says Rory McIlroy final round caused pre-game press delay
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
JJ Redick, a well-known golf fan, admitted he was late to his pre-game press conference before the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Utah Jazz because he was watching McIlroy’s display at The Masters.
“I would’ve been here earlier, but Rory decided to hit it in the trees. I had to make sure,” Redick said just after arriving at the press conference.
The Lakers coach was later asked to expand on what he was watching and why the moment kept his attention.
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He then stated, according to reporter Benjamin Royer: “A little bit different than last year, was really cheering for him to win. I mean, that was the biggest thing. I wanted to see him finally win the Masters.
“I loved how it happened last year, where he makes a bogey and then he has to come back and he has to make a birdie putt. It’s just like the golf gods, ‘you want to win this tournament, you got to earn it.’
“And today I was very curious, I wanted to see it out how he managed the next shot. That was the big thing. How do you manage, or you failed on the tee shot? It’s not where he wanted to be. And how do you manage that next shot?
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“And obviously everybody knows I’m an avid golfer… I just wanted to see how Rory sort of managed that. Obviously, needed to make bogey and avoid the double, and completed the task.”
Rory McIlroy joins elite group with back-to-back The Masters wins
Redick was watching history being made, as McIlroy’s victory also placed him in rare company in golf history.
He became just the fourth player to win The Masters in consecutive years.
Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods had previously achieved the feat.
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