Shock: Rory Feels Rusty!

In adding the Valero Texas Open and canceling his Haiti UNICEF trip this week, it appears Rory McIlroy has finally realized the Masters is upon us.

As has been noted, his announced early-2013 schedule was shockingly light in pre-Masters prep, and that was before he missed cuts, left the match play early and WD'd while refusing to add Bay Hill to make up for the lack of "reps."

Chris Duncan reports on the rationale behind Rory's decision to add another event prior to the Masters, inspired by caddie J.P. Fitzgerald.

"Everything feels good in my game," he said. "It's just about playing a bit more competitive golf and just getting a little sharper. I just feel a little rusty out there, at times."

The Houston Open was McIlroy's first event since Doral, so he wasn't worried about wearing himself out before Masters week.

"The more golf you play, I guess, the more savvy you become," McIlroy said. "I think it's a good decision. I'm looking forward to getting a few more rounds under our belt going into Augusta."

His commitment to San Antonio forced him to cancel a two-day humanitarian trip to Haiti, where he was going to meet with children and families affected by the 2010 earthquake there. McIlroy is an Ireland ambassador to UNICEF and traveled to Haiti in 2011, before winning the U.S. Open at Congressional, his first major championship.