• European Tour

Defiant McIlroy rejects Montgomerie's assessment

ESPN staff
April 14, 2011
Rory McIlroy admitted he 'unravelled' at Augusta © PA Photos
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Rory McIlroy believes his Masters meltdown was nothing more than a "slight speed bump" in his bid to win a major.

The 21-year-old blew a four-shot lead on Sunday at Augusta, eventually finishing ten strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel, and admitted afterwards that he was "very disappointed" to have "unravelled".

McIlroy went to pieces on the back nine, with a triple-bogey on ten proving the catalyst for his spiral towards an eight-over round of 80. Subsequently, he has had to listen to Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie suggesting that it would take him at least a month to get over his heartbreak.

But after posting a three-under 69 at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday, leaving him five shots off the top, McIlroy was in bullish mood. "I'm fine, I think other people are more upset than I am about it," he said. "I'm going to have so many other chances to win majors, and that's not being big headed or cocky about it.

"I believe in myself and there's three more left this year, so hopefully I'll have a great chance in all of those. The Masters was a slight speed bump, but nothing more than that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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