Q. A week that began with no practice round, a game-time decision. How would you assess your performance this week, all told?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, happy I got through four days and my body feels good. I feel like my game sort of progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn't reflect it over the weekend. I hit the ball well. I just didn't make anything on the greens.
Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well. A couple little things to work on, but overall, not the week that I wanted. Just trying to take the positives.
Q. On Wednesday you said that it felt like -- I know you said a pretty different setup compared to past years. After four rounds does that still seem like the case?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, the rough was certainly longer. They tried to get the greens firm and fast, and they're pretty firm. I think that rain on Thursday sort of took a lot of the speed out of them. They're slower than they look. I felt like I struggled to get the ball to the hole quite a lot the last couple days. They look crispy. They look burned out. But there's still quite a lot of grass on them.
But different setup. The leader is at 13-under. I'd say if Ludvig goes out and shoots a couple under he'll win. So it was a good test. Not a ton of low scores, but I think it still gives you an opportunity to go low.
Q. Just wondering what you admire about Ludvig's game.
RORY McILROY: Pretty much everything. His pace of play. Once he gets over the ball he's really decisive. He's obviously got a beautiful swing. Looks like he plays with a lot of freedom.
Watching a little bit of the golf yesterday afternoon, he's always smiling out there. He looks like he finds a lot of joy in playing the game, and it looks like him and Joe, his caddie, always have good conversations and a good laugh out there, and that's important, as well.
Q. What did you learn about him during the Ryder Cup, being his teammate?
RORY McILROY: He's pretty unflappable. He's so laid-back, like, ridiculously laid-back, which is a really good thing, especially in environments like the Ryder Cup.
Q. In the context of the season and obviously what's around the corner, did you get enough out of this week to feel, right, I'm going to be ready for Augusta, or do you need to do anything else?
RORY McILROY: I'll see. I haven't really made a decision either way. I'll see how my body feels. We'll see how I feel in practice and at home and if I get itchy feet at home maybe add an event at some point.
I feel like it was important to make the weekend here and play an extra couple of days. But yeah, really just see how the next week goes, see how once I get back to actually a full practice schedule and in the gym and stuff like that, see how my body reacts to that, and then I'll see.
Q. What does Sawgrass tell you every year about your game before the majors season?
RORY McILROY: I don't know. I don't know. Sometimes you feel like it tells you stuff, and then other times it sort of doesn't. I've had bad results here and went on to have a good season, and I've had good results here, and the two really good results here I've went on to have good seasons. It's a decent litmus test. I don't think it's the best in terms of you telling where your game is at. It can get a little funky if you hit it in some spots.
But yeah, I would say you have to be really on to shoot scores here. I guess it tells you a lot about that. I feel like I hit the ball well the last three days. I didn't get a lot out of it. But I do feel like I saw some good signs even though the scores didn't quite reflect it.
Q. Anything specific to Augusta that's kind of helpful this week?
RORY McILROY: Maybe some of the approach shots, some of the visuals off the tee. Around the greens is completely different. You're hacking out of five-inch rough around here and you're getting these awkward lies because of the moguls and the Pete Dye bunkers. Around the greens is not very similar. But maybe some approach shots and visuals off tees.
Q. Can we expect you at TGL on Tuesday?
RORY McILROY: We'll see. Yeah, geez, I haven't even -- yeah, we'll see.
Q. You seem to really admire Ludvig's laid-back attitude. Is that something you try to emphasize or apply yourself on the course?
RORY McILROY: I think at 36 and sort of having a 17, 18-year career it's easy to be a bit more laid back than it is when you're 26. He's only really three years into his pro career. I certainly wasn't as laid back at that point as he is, but it is very admirable.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports