Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard Criticizes Rory McIlroy’s Lack of Discipline After Disappointing Masters 2025 Round 1 Finish
Rory McIlroy was off to a promising start at the 2025 Masters, but a disastrous sequence on the back nine cost him dearly. On Thursday, April 10, the four-time major champion was playing cleanly at Augusta National until things fell apart at the par-5 15th hole. After reaching the green in two shots, McIlroy’s troubles began when his chip went too far and rolled into the water. He ended up needing four more strokes to finish the hole. The struggles continued at the 17th, where he three-putted and recorded a double bogey.
Golf Channel analyst Rex Hoggard didn’t hold back in his assessment during the network’s latest podcast episode. He called McIlroy’s mistakes “sloppy” and “unforced,” emphasizing that such errors were inexcusable for a player of his experience.
“It’s not as though he just showed up today and is playing this golf course for the first time,” Hoggard said, pointing out that McIlroy had already made two scouting trips to Augusta this year. “He should’ve had an edge over others.”
Hoggard also broke down McIlroy’s errors at the 17th, criticizing his poor decision-making. “You missed the green from a spot you shouldn’t have. The firmness of the greens might’ve caught him off guard, but then he hit a mediocre chip and followed it up with an overly aggressive first putt—leaving himself a tough bogey putt, which he missed.”
The analyst echoed golfing legend Jack Nicklaus’s earlier comments about McIlroy, suggesting that his repeated issues at Augusta stem from a mental lapse. “This is the lack of discipline Jack was talking about. It’s not the stats or the competitors—it’s this inability to stay composed that’s cost him the green jacket year after year.”
With Thursday’s finish, McIlroy has now failed to break 70 in six consecutive opening rounds at the Masters.
Tee Times for Masters 2025 Round 2
McIlroy is grouped with Ludvig Åberg and Akshay Bhatia for Friday’s second round, with a tee time of 9:58 a.m. ET. He currently trails leader Justin Rose by seven shots.
The round begins at 7:40 a.m. ET with Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, and Austin Eckroat starting the day. Leader Rose will tee off at 8:52 a.m. ET alongside Max Homa and J.J. Spaun. The final group—Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy, and Thomas Detry—will begin at 1:45 p.m. ET.