Lunch with Jack Nicklaus last Sunday and dinner with Arnold Palmer on Thursday night . Rory McIlroy is certainly mixing with the right company as he finalises his preparations for his tilt at the career Grand Slam at the Masters next month . Not just the greats of this sport , either . While on a two-day trip to Augusta last week , the Northern Irishman hit the gym at 6am — and was joined shortly afterwards by Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning . ‘ When they came in it was my cue to walk out , ’ said McIlroy , smiling . ‘ When you think it ’ s their off-season , it was quite something to see their dedication . They ’ re both in their late 30s and it emphasised their determination to prolong their careers. ’ Rory McIlroy greets fans while walking to the ninth tee during a pro-am at the Arnold Palmer Invitational . Amazing what a pep trip to Augusta can do for a man — that , and a long weekend practice session with his long-time coach , Michael Bannon . When last seen at the Cadillac Championship at Doral 10 days ago McIlroy cut a dispirited figure as he completed the second of two disappointing tournaments in Florida . Here at Bay Hill , on the eve of his first appearance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational , there was a spring to his stride once more . ‘ I certainly feel a lot better about my game than I did at Doral , ’ he said . ‘ And I think this course sets up well for me . Practising the last two days has left me ruing the fact I haven ’ t played here in the past. ’ McIlroy watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during a pro-am Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament . The accent was clearly on relaxation rather than reconnaissance when McIlroy took his dad Gerry , a former scratch handicap player himself , up to Augusta last Thursday . ‘ I think it gave him an appreciation of what it takes to play the course off the back tees , ’ said Rory . ‘ He ’ s always asking me why I did this and that when I come off the course . Now I think he knows what we go through. ’ McIlroy was coy when asked about his score , noting merely that he played well on the first day . Which probably means a 64 or 65 . This is his last scheduled tournament before the Masters in three weeks and , in the absence of eight-time winner Tiger Woods , the local community is certainly glad he ’ s here . McIlroy looks over a shot during the pro-am round prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational . McIlroy slaps hands with a young fan , while walking between holes in Orlando . McIlroy plays a shot at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando during the pro-am . ‘ Welcome Rory , ’ proclaims a huge sign hanging from a house near the 18th green . ‘ It was very nice of them to do that and it summed up the reception I ’ ve had since I ’ ve arrived , ’ said the 25-year-old . McIlroy begins on Thursday in a belter of a threeball alongside good friend Rickie Fowler and another of Augusta ’ s highly-fancied players — gifted Australian Jason Day . Also in the field are world No 3 Henrik Stenson and Adam Scott , and among the British and Irish contingent are Ian Poulter , Graeme McDowell , Paul Casey , Danny Willett and Padraig Harrington . McIlroy has scheduled the Arnold Palmer Invitational as his last event before the Masters in three weeks . As for that talk with the Golden Bear , McIlroy was asking about pin placements on certain greens when Nicklaus said : ‘ Never forget , Rory — if you ’ re in doubt , the middle of the green is never a bad place to be at Augusta. ’ For a player who has certainly been guilty of playing too aggressively on occasion in the past that might prove the most sage piece of advice of all .
Rory Arnold Palmer is preparing for tilt at the career Grand Slam at the Masters . The golfer has certainly been hanging around with winners in recent days . Arnold Palmer enjoyed lunch and dinner with Jack Nicklaus and McIlroy . He also met Super Bowl-winning duo Tom Brady and Peyton Manning .