If history and a tilt at the career grand slam at the Masters seems a world away for Rory McIlroy amidst the water torture of Doral , then this is the week when it will all come into blessed focus . Forget the frustrated figure he cut on Friday when he created a YouTube highlight with his highland toss of his three iron into one of the many hazards that give the Blue Monster its name . This week it will all feel like stale news when he makes the ultimate golfing road trip . How does a couple of days behind closed doors at Augusta sound , with your dad for company , a couple of mates , a club member who knows all the course secrets and an athlete who is even more celebrated in America than the world No1 ? Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the sixth at the the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Saturday . McIlroy plans to link up with four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady at Augusta . All that awaits the 25-year-old as he combines a bit of rest and recreation with a touch of sharp prep work with the first major of the season now just a month away . ‘ To be honest , Augusta National is probably even nicer without the crowds than it is during the Masters , so it ’ s going to be a great experience , ’ he said . The much-decorated athlete ? None other than Tom Brady , quarterback with the New England Patriots and a four-time Super Bowl champion . He has played Augusta once before and shot a 77 , so he is clearly no mean competitor . For a massive fan of virtually every sport like McIlroy , the appeal of linking up with Brady is obvious . As for the club member , Jeff Knox accompanied McIlroy when he was first man out in the third round of the Masters last year . Acting as marker , the 52 year old actually outscored him shooting 70 to McIlroy ’ s 71 , with the latter describing Knox ’ s performance on the greens as ‘ the best I have ever seen at Augusta ’ . World No 1 McIlroy threw a club into the water in frustration after more erratic play on Friday . It is not rocket science , therefore , as to why McIlroy would seek him out in a more friendly setting in an attempt to pick his brain . At the season ’ s first major , McIlroy will be attempting to complete not only the career grand slam but a third major victory in a row , following his successes in The Open and the USPGA last year . As for Doral and the WGC-Cadillac Championship , McIlroy began his third round yesterday eight shots adrift of the leader JB Holmes . He actually made up three strokes on Holmes on Friday despite his three iron following his golf ball into the water at the par-five eighth . McIlroy played a lot better once he had let off steam , with the result that there were only nine players ahead of him at the halfway stage . Among them were some powerful hitters , including Dustin Johnson , Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson . Welshman Jamie Donaldson was ninth . Australian Adam Scott turned in a remarkable opening two rounds to be just three off the lead . The Australian was not only playing his first tournament for three months , he was using a standard-length putter for the first time in four years .
Rory McIlroy created a YouTube highlight by throwing club into water . Score: 7