Sir Nick Faldo believes the live 'walk and talk' interview Rory McIlroy conducted at last year's Masters was a major distraction.
McIlroy spoke with the tournament's host broadcaster during his opening round and he ultimately missed the cut. The Masters remains the only major that McIlroy has not won and Faldo believes the 34-year-old needs to be fully focused on his game if he is to emerge victorious this year.
"I didn't like it," Faldo said of McIlroy's 'walk and talk' interview. "I thought, 'You're kidding me! The Masters?'. Sure, do that any other week but why the Masters? I mean, that is one of the most beautiful things about the Masters.
"It's you and your caddie, just the two of you and the other players. That's all that's inside the ropes. And to suddenly bring other people in? Because that's got to be organised, hasn't it? And this sort of thing, your manager is going to say to you before, 'Will you do this?'.
"Gosh, no, you need 100 per cent concentration. I think he's trying to put priorities into golf. You've got to look out. You have a window as an athlete, don't you? You've got tons of time once you've stopped playing your sport to go and do all your other stuff.
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"But while you're an athlete, give it 100 per cent. That was kind of my attitude. You know, once you get your mind into other things, business and all sorts, then it's hurting your golf. It really does."
And Faldo believes McIlroy has at least another decade of opportunities to win the Masters, insisting: "The game has changed. We have brought the physical element in and we understand the physical side.
"It was always 30-35 when you were in your prime and he is still in his prime. They are so fit and trained now so he has got at least another 10 years I would say of being supersonically fit. I still think the problem is times gone by.
Rory McIlroy conducted a 'walk and talk' interview at last year's Masters and Faldo was not a fan (David Cannon/Getty Images)"We are nearly 10 years now since his last major. That is the problem. Unfortunately it's just going on, time after time. It's not just this season. There's four or five or six years of scar tissue now, of Rory coming in as favourite, playing great.
"He has tried his best at times. 'Can I re-set, can I literally forget the past, who I am? Look how talented I am and go and play golf again'. It is not that easy. Can you turn back the clock? Can you delete all the negativity that you have seen and felt?
"I think there is a way where he could find his stride because, as we know, when he finds that stride and gets that trust, then he is phenomenal. I bet that is all he wants to do – just set me free."
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