NEED TO KNOW
- Rory McIlroy said he has been reluctant to wear his green Masters jacket since winning the tournament in April
- McIlroy told reporters the jacket is hanging in his wardrobe
- The Irish golfer admitted he “always thought” he’d “never have the thing off” if he had won it
Rory McIlroy hasn’t been taking advantage of his time with his green Masters jacket.
The 36-year-old Irish golfer and most recent Masters champion spoke to reporters about the iconic green jacket ahead of the Tour Championship on Tuesday, Aug. 19, where he said he’s “reluctant to wear it,” according to the Associated Press.
“It’s not as if I wear it a lot,” McIlroy continued. “I have it hanging in my wardrobe in a place where I can see it every day.”
The tournament’s winner is given one year of ownership with the jacket before they’re required to return it to the Augusta National Golf Club. They can wear the jacket on the club’s grounds, but taking it off-site is a faux pas.
“I always thought if I had one, if I did win the Masters one day, I’d never have the thing off, and it hasn’t been that way,” McIlroy said, adding, “I haven’t worn it as much as I thought I would.”
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McIlroy revealed that he wore his jacket until 3:30 a.m. the night after his victory, and again at an appearance at the Association of Golf Writers’ dinner during the British Open.
In addition to his Masters jacket, McIlroy spoke about the pin flags from the Masters gift shop during his media availability, telling reporters he will “never get sick of signing them” for fans.
And now that he’s a Masters champion, McIlroy was allowed to sign his name on the most desired area of the flag, reserved for champions. “I’ve waited 17 years to sign that flag in the middle, and I will never complain about doing it,” he said.
McIlroy’s Masters victory came after a playoff with English golfer Justin Rose, and it cemented his name as one of the few to achieve a Grand Slam, joining Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.
After the win, McIlroy shared an emotional moment with his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy on the course.
“It feels incredible,” McIlroy told CBS soon after his win. “This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time. The last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that.”
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