McIlroy spends three days he'll never forget getting ready for the Masters

How'd you spend your spring break? As Melanie Hauser explains, Rory McIlroy spent his soaking up the full Augusta National experience from the crow's nest to the Butler Cabin.

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

Three days inside the gates at Augusta National Golf Club.

Rooms in the Eisenhower Cabin.

Wake-up calls courtesy of the grounds crew and three meals a day in the clubhouse.

Four leisurely rounds with your friends on picture perfect days.

Priceless. Simply priceless.

That was how Rory McIlroy spent what was, ostensibly, his spring break.

Of course, he's not your average 20-year-old.

McIlroy is one of golf's rising stars. An Irishman who's been on everyone's radar since he was a kid. You know, a couple years ago.

Now he's 12th in the world with a bullet. Not to mention a powerful sweeping swing that repeats with amazing accuracy. A win last year at the Dubai Desert Classic. More than a few close calls. And, of course, a track record at the majors.

How does a share of third at last year's PGA Championship, a share of 20th at the Masters and a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open grab you?

You may know him as the kid with the unruly mop of hair, but you might want to think again. For one, he's trimmed up his hair. For another, he's making everyone's short list -- even with a few back problems -- everywhere he goes.

This week, it's the Shell Houston Open where he tied for 19th a year ago. He practiced Monday afternoon and played an early 18 Tuesday with Rickie Fowler, another up-and-comer.

A great warm-up, he said, for next week at the Masters.

"It is set up with the Masters in mind -- the same grass lengths, same green speeds and for me, this is really a preparation week for the Masters,'' he said. "So long as I can get my game in shape going into next Monday, I will be happy.

"It's just like Augusta with not much rough. It is tough too and the winning score is not usually that low. The wind gets up and stuff.''

Last year, it blew so hard in the opening round, the round had to be suspended. White caps on the water. Some 45 mph body slamming – and ball moving -- winds. McIlroy opened with a 67.

A week later, he was playing Round 2 at Augusta National with Anthony Kim, who threw out 11 birdies that day. And a 65. McIlroy shot 73.

Which brings us back to those three perfect days at Augusta. He brought lifelong buddies -- dating back to Irish junior boys days -- Harry Diamond and Stephen Sweeney. Sweeney, who was an assistant at Royal County Down, then TPC Sawgrass and now St. Andrews -- set the rounds up through Augusta National member Dick LeBlond.

"It's great to play the course ... especially when you go out and play the course when no one's there,'' McIlroy said. "I really respect the course but going out and playing and having a casual round with your friends, you learn it's just another golf course. I can make birdies out here. I played with Anthony last year when he made 11 birdies. So it's very do-able.

"I think sometimes people might respect the golf course too much because they've seen so many things happen over the years. Instead of going out and playing it as you see it.''

McIlroy was still smiling about the trip.

"The sunrise there was incredible,'' he said. "It's so quiet and peaceful.''

And everything felt perfect.

He didn't know much about his cabin's namesake -- President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- when he arrived. Now, he can talk Ike with the best of them. He can point to which bedroom Ike stayed in, where his Secret Service detail slept. And, he has a new appreciation for Augusta National, period.

"It was pretty cool,'' he said. "The Butler Cabin's obviously quite small, but the Eisenhower Cabin from outside it doesn't look that big, but when you get inside, it's three floors. The basement where there are a couple of bedrooms, you go upstairs and there's a really nice lounge and a kitchen and a couple more bedrooms. Then upstairs, there is a another sitting room and more bedrooms. There are like six or seven bedrooms. It's deceptively big.''

The décor hasn't changed much since Ike slept there with the exception of a couple of big flat-screens. Not a bad place to stop in after 18 to watch a bit of sport before you stroll up to the clubhouse for dinner.

"It's a lot different in a normal week like that compared to the tournament,'' McIlroy said. "The tournament, you never really get to see the whole place and everything that's going on.

"We spent a lot of time in the clubhouse, the crow's nest. Had dinner there a couple nights. I suppose, really got a feel for the place and how members treat it and respect it. It's definitely a place if I was ever going to go for a weekend to play golf, I'd love to go there.

"One thing that was amazing to me was how respectful they were of the chairman. Whatever the chairman says, goes.''

Chairman Billy Payne has changed a few things of late, including new invitations to the event and a state-of-the-art driving range -- where the old parking lot used to be -- that is blowing away the players.

"It's awesome,'' McIlroy said. "They've planted trees up the middle, so you have two fairways to hit up. You have a couple chipping greens. And bunker play areas. I think when they do something there, they do it right. They say that practice range is only going to get used really 12 times a year and they were saying it cost $12 million to build it.''

As for changes to the course? McIlroy saw subtle things.

"They've widened the opening of second green about 10 feet,'' he said. "It's nothing really. And they've extended a few tee boxes forward so they have a bit more variation, but there was really nothing. They didn't do anything major.''

The weather held until they drove out the gates. At that point, it started to rain.

It didn't matter. It was simply the perfect break.

Brilliant. Priceless.