Inside The Ropes: Witnessing McIlroy's Historic Masters Week Up Close
McIlroy's Masters week was particularly special for those who witnessed it from inside the ropes, especially his playing partners. Akshay Bhatia, who played alongside McIlroy during the first two rounds, shared his unique perspective of the historic victory.
"I wasn't expecting to be in that group based on World Ranking," Bhatia said. "It was my first time playing with Rory McIlroy."
Despite McIlroy's opening round 72 with two double bogeys, Bhatia was amazed by his playing companion's performance. "I've never seen someone hit a driver that good. He played great the first round despite the doubles," said Bhatia, who managed to edge McIlroy with a 70 on Thursday.
McIlroy's excellence was even more evident during Friday's round of 66. "He hits it far, he hits it straight, his wedge play was great. He didn't miss inside 10 feet on Friday," Bhatia recalled.
The experience left a lasting impression on the 23-year-old Bhatia: "It was really cool for me to see, as he's kind of been the guy of our generation, to finally cap it off. It really inspired me and a lot of people watching that final round."
This insider perspective from Bhatia provides a unique glimpse into McIlroy's journey to claiming his first green jacket and completing the career Grand Slam, showcasing the level of excellence that defined his historic Masters victory.