The Masters: Rory McIlroy can handle Masters pressure – Shane Lowry

Despite the attention being on McIlroy’s Grand Slam hopes, Lowry says he still feels a lot of pressure and winning the Masters would “be a very special thing to happen”.

“If it’s not me, I hope it’s him,” Lowry said on McIlroy.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with Rory over the last few years, coming into this week [ahead of the Masters].

“He’s won everything there is to win at golf and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to give it a run this week.

“I think there are a couple of players, who if you finish ahead of them then you’ll have a chance. He’s one of them.”

Irishman Lowry added he plans to take the “bull by the horns” as he looks to win his second major title and says he is “feeling good” about his game.

“I’m excited for the week. The biggest thing for me this week is I need to lower my expectations a little bit and just go and play my game and see where that leaves me at the end of the week,” added Lowry.

“I’ve been doing well over the last while and put myself in contention, but that doesn’t give me any given right to go and do it this week.

“It’s about going back to basics and see what happens.”