Shipnuck Live From Augusta

Alan Shipnuck called in from across the street from Augusta National, posted up in the Wheels Up hospitality area because he needed Wi-Fi, to talk about his new book Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar. The book dropped the day before Masters week. Rory McIlroy is defending the title for the first time.

Shipnuck's pitch on Rory is simple. Of the three most popular golfers of the last 30-plus years, Tiger, Phil, and Rory, two had their lives derailed by addiction, scandal, and greed. Rory remained a mostly normal person. Shipnuck said his esteem for Rory went up throughout the project, even with a few spicy exchanges along the way. Rory dropped F-bombs at him on the driving range at Oakmont during the US Open because the book had gotten in his head. Later, at Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Shipnuck gave Rory an early copy. Rory said it made him laugh. Peace was made.

The book's revelations are mostly granular. Rory's dad worked as a rugby club janitor cleaning toilets at 6 a.m., then bartended at a scrappy golf club, then came home for dinner, then bartended at the rugby club until midnight. His mom Rosie would then leave for her night shift packing boxes at a factory. The sacrifice has always been part of McIlroy lore. Shipnuck got into the details.

On Rory's Masters chances: Shipnuck has switched his pick to Rory. He showed up early to Augusta to attend the women's amateur and the Drive Chip and Putt. He's hosting the Champions Dinner. He's swanning around in his green jacket. Shipnuck said he wouldn't be surprised if Rory shoots 62 on Thursday. He called Rory completely unencumbered and said his best golf might still be in front of him.

On Tiger: Shipnuck's tone was melancholy. He said Tiger enriched all of our lives as sports fans, and now we're going on two decades of sad dissolution. He has empathy for Tiger's addictions, but it's also fair to be frustrated. The line that landed hardest: Tiger is lucky he hasn't killed anybody on the road. Shipnuck said Tiger is surrounded by yes men and enablers. The one person who could speak truth to him is Rory McIlroy. Co-equal Grand Slam winner. Business partner through TGL. Role model relationship. If Rory wants that burden, he might be the guy.

On the state of the PGA Tour: Shipnuck said the Tour has won the war with LIV. New leadership under Brian Rolapp, fresh from the NFL, is shrinking the schedule and building bigger tentpole events. LIV isn't going anywhere, but it's a sportswashing exercise for Saudi Arabia, not a golf product. The Public Investment Fund makes its money back through political and business deals struck during LIV events. The balance sheet doesn't matter.

Rory's in, Tiger's out, the Tour is healthy. Augusta is dry this year. Shipnuck is picking his guy.