Augustan's tips get McIlroy enthused

Rory McIlroy might have found the missing piece he needs to complete the Augusta National Golf Club puzzle.

The key – which might have been supplied by Augusta National member and Augusta resident Jeff Knox – is a better understanding of how to putt the club’s treacherous greens.

Thanks to Knox, McIlroy can’t wait to get back to the tournament and use the knowledge he picked up in the third round of the 2014 Masters from Knox.

If he wins, McIlroy, the world’s No. 1 player, will complete the career grand slam at age 25.

Knox played with McIlroy as a noncompeting marker in the third round and shot 2-under-par 70 to 71 by McIlroy. “He’s the best I’ve ever seen on Augusta’s greens. I thought he was going to be nice and three-putt the last, and we would have a halve, but he beat me by one,” said McIlroy, who closed with birdies on Nos. 15, 17 and 18.

Armed with what he learned from Knox, McIlroy shot a final-round 69 while paired with Jimmy Walker.

“A lot did come out of it,” McIlroy said of playing with Knox. “I picked his brain a little bit on the way around,”

McIlroy finished in a tie for eighth, his best Masters finish in six starts.

“I’m very comfortable at Augusta from tee to green,” McIlroy said. “It sets up very well for me. I probably haven’t taken advantage of the opportunities that I have given myself over the past few years, even in 2011 I was leading by four going into the last day and I felt like I missed everything.

“If I can have another ball-striking week like that, but just be a little better on the greens, you know, sooner or later it’s going to all fall into place for me.”

McIlroy had high praise for Knox after their trip around Augusta National.

“He’s a great player,” McIlroy said. “He played just like he should be playing in the Masters. … People said ‘you got beat by an amateur.’ Not many amateurs can shoot 70 off the Masters tees at Augusta.”

Knox thanked McIlroy for the compliment.

“It was quite an honor for him to say that,” Knox said. “I don’t know if shocked is the right word, but it was quite an honor. I happened to play good that day; I guess that helped.”

Knox, who holds the Augusta National members’ course record of 61, shot in 2003, was being modest. He also beat former Masters champion Larry Mize the following day, 77 to 79, and is a two-time Georgia Mid-Amateur champion.

Knox, 51, has been the club’s noncompeting marker since 2002, when he played with Craig Stadler and holed out a wedge shot for eagle on the eighth hole.

In all, Knox has served as a marker 13 times and played with such players as Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kelly Kraft, the only time the pairing featured two amateurs.

As a marker, Knox plays the same tees as his playing partner. He keeps the participant’s scorecard, gives him someone to play with and helps with the pace of play.

Knox’s playing partners aren’t nearly as excited about playing with him as he is with them. He draws a player who has – or is tied for – the highest score in the field through 36 or 54 holes. He is called upon when there is an odd number of players left in the field after the cut.

“The main thing is try to stay out of the competitor’s way and make sure I keep his score correct,” Knox said.

McIlroy had opened with 71-77 last year and made the cut on the number. He and Knox went in the first group on Saturday.

McIlroy’s 71-69–140 finish on the weekend was bettered by only one player (Miguel Angel Jimenez had 66-71–137) while Rickie Fowler (67-73–140) matched McIlroy’s weekend.

“So for being not quite a nice position to be in going off first at the weekend at Augusta, it did turn into quite a positive for me, which was nice,” McIlroy said.