Rory McIlroy had himself quite a week. He won The Players Championship for the second time, took home $4.5 million, and, oh yeah – he also stole a guy’s phone during a practice round.

McIlroy’s win at TPC Sawgrass wasn’t just another trophy for his collection a – it was a big statement heading into The Masters next month. And since it all happened on St. Patrick’s Day, maybe luck was on his side. Or maybe he’s just playing really good golf. Either way, his odds for Augusta just got a lot better.

The Phone Incident: A Classic Rory Moment

Before we get into what this means for The Masters, let’s talk about the phone situation. During a practice round, McIlroy walked over to a heckler, grabbed the guy’s phone, and walked off with it. The details are still a little murky, but apparently, the guy had been chirping Rory about his past struggles at Augusta. Instead of ignoring him, Rory decided to confiscate the phone like a middle school teacher catching a kid texting in class.

Security eventually got involved, the guy was kicked out, and McIlroy went back to doing what he does best – playing golf. It was a weird but kind of hilarious moment, and honestly, it’s nice to see some personality on tour.

What This Means for The Masters

McIlroy’s win at The Players was big, but now all eyes are on Augusta. He’s still chasing that elusive Green Jacket to complete his career Grand Slam, and after this performance, his odds just got a lot better. Before Sawgrass, there were a lot of question marks about his game – his putter has been hit or miss, and he hadn’t been closing out tournaments. But after handling the pressure and beating a strong field, he looks like a real threat at The Masters.

The big question is: Can he keep it going? We’ve seen Rory get hot before and then disappear when it matters most. If he’s going to win at Augusta, he needs to avoid the one bad round that always seems to derail him. But if he plays like he did at The Players, he’s got a real shot.

CJ’S Current 6 Picks for The 2025 Masters

1. Scottie Scheffler (+400)

• Why? The guy is a machine. He’s the defending champ, world No. 1, and seems to never have a bad week. If his putter doesn’t betray him, he’s the safest pick.

2. Rory McIlroy (+800)

• Why? He’s coming off a huge win, and if he can finally put four solid rounds together at Augusta, he could get the career Grand Slam. The question is whether he can avoid that one disaster hole that always seems to pop up.

3. Xander Schauffele (+1200)

• Why? Xander is always in the mix but never quite gets it done. Maybe this is finally his time. He’s finished near the top at Augusta before, so he knows the course well.

4. Ludvig Åberg (+1200)

• Why? This guy is the real deal and one of my newer favourites. He finished runner-up at The Masters last year in his first try and is only getting better. If he can handle the pressure, he could win his first of many majors.

5. Collin Morikawa (+1600)

• Why? One of the best iron players in the world, which is huge at Augusta. He’s been close before, and if he can get his putter rolling, he’ll be a serious threat.

6. Bryson DeChambeau (+2000)

• Why? He’s got the power, but does he have the patience? Augusta has humbled him before, but if he can balance aggression with smart play, he could surprise a lot of people.

Final Thoughts

McIlroy’s win at The Players was a big deal, and it definitely shook up The Masters conversation. The phone incident was just the cherry on top of a wild week.

The Masters is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years, with a strong mix of past champions, young stars, and guys like McIlroy who are still trying to get that one career-defining win.

If Rory can ride this momentum, we might finally see him slip on that Green Jacket. Or, who knows, maybe he’ll pull a Shooter McGavin and just take it from someone else like he did with that phone.

-C