Rory McIlroy said he's not focused on the Masters — then he blew up and snapped a club on Thursday

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rory McIlroy insists he isn’t getting ahead of himself.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not thinking about the Masters. And if Thursday’s round is any indication, McIlroy’s head is already in Georgia.

How could he not be thinking about the Masters? For one thing, he’s a green jacket away from completing the career Grand Slam. For another, 11 of the 16 questions he took in Wednesday’s zoom press conference ahead of the start of the Zozo Championship at Sherwood dealt with the Masters.

“You guys are going to write about Augusta because that’s what people want to hear about, right? You’re catering to what people want to read,” McIlroy said before the Zozo Championship.

The world No. 5 wasn’t annoyed at all the Masters questions. He perked up when talking about trips he’s taken there with his father when the Masters wasn’t being played, especially his journeys down into the club’s famous wine cellar. He talked about little changes here and there to the course all the players see from year to year. About staying in one of the famous white cabins.

But he said in advance of the Zozo that all of his attention that he was focused on the task at hand. He followed by shooting a 73 on Thursday, falling nine shots behind leader Sebastian Munoz.

McIlroy’s back nine was a pre-Halloween nightmare, complete with three bogeys and a pair of double-bogeys. Despite three birdies after the turn, it’ll be difficult for the former No. 1 to get back in contention as low numbers should continue on a welcoming Sherwood Country Club.

He even snapped a club in frustration on the 18th hole.