In order to understand how Rory McIlroy has coped with the pain at The Masters, golf fans must first be made aware of the former world No 1’s favourite drink on a night out. While some of golf’s successful players might opt for a whisky or beer, Jagerbombs caught McIlroy’s eye at a young age.
A ‘Jagerbomb’ is a concoction of the liquorice-flavoured liquor Jagermeister and a can of Red Bull. The shot glass containing the Jager is usually submerged into an empty tumbler before it’s filled with the energy drink, combining for a tasty mixer with a light brown hue.
It is a popular choice of beverage amongst clubbers and young people on a night out due to its high caffeine content and alcohol percentage. During his youthful days, McIlroy was certainly a big fan.
The speed in which he consumed them was eye-catching, as his historic tweets documented, and he learned the hard way just how horrific the hangovers can be.
McIlroy’s love affair started in 2010 when the golfer, who was 21 at the time, tweeted the day after Europe’s win over Team USA at the Ryder Cup in Wales.
Since then, Jagerbombs have seemingly become part and parcel of McIlroy’s life through the highs and lows in his career, as the Northern Irishman often celebrates – or commiserates – with the same drink.
“What a week!! Think I’m still drunk!” McIlroy said, before adding: “Jagerbombs out of the Ryder cup! Great banter with euros and Americans last night!”
Jagerbombs quickly became part of his ritual, as he stated in an interview with ShortList magazine in 2011 that he had a firm gameplan when drinking before, during and after tournaments.
“I try to start on beer to start off slow, but then I tend to get into vodka Red Bulls and Jagerbombs,” he said.
“5 Jagerbombs before midnight!! #goingtobealongnight”, before posting an hour later: “Up to 10 now!!” The next morning, McIlroy solemnly tweeted: “Jagerbombs 1 Rory 0.”
His former Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood once weighed in on his drinking habits, joking: “@McIlroyRory when you going to learn about the jagerbombs Rors?”
After shooting a round of 80 and blowing a four-shot lead at the Masters in 2011, McIlroy posted a picture of himself drinking his sorrows away – swigging directly from a bottle of his favourite poison.
But his fortunes would change three years later when he finally won the revered Open in 2014, finishing on 17-under-par, two strokes clear of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia.
McIlroy said he’d drink “everything or anything” from the Claret Jug, golf’s oldest trophy, following his victory at The Open. But there was no surprise when it emerged that a bottle of Jagermeister was being poured directly into the silverware.
Now a four-time major winner, McIlroy hasn’t tasted success in the major bracket since claiming the PGA Tour Championship 10 years ago, while the Masters is one that continues to elude him.
If he does finally end his long wait for the green jacket before winding down his career, the 35-year-old might be tempted to head to the bar for a round of Jagerbombs, after waiting for more than a decade for major No.5.
