There are few things quite like the opening day of The Masters, with the occasion kicking off with the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson hitting the ceremonial drive off the first tee at Augusta National.
The Masters marks the start of the golf season in the eyes of many. Augusta National is arguably the most pristine golf course in the world, with barely a blade of grass out of place as the world’s best players prepare to tee off in the first major of the year.
There are so many contenders to win this week. Scottie Scheffler is looking to become only the fourth player to retain the title, while Rory McIlroy is, once again, hoping to win the career grand slam by clinching his fifth major title.
Elsewhere, Xander Schauffele has won two of the last three majors. Meanwhile, the likes of Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas are playing arguably as well as they can this year without winning on the PGA Tour.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player agree on their player to win The Masters
And of course, the LIV Golf contingent cannot be ruled out. Jon Rahm won The Masters in 2023, while Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open last year. And ruling out the likes of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson seems incredibly naive.
But it seems that the legendary figures at Augusta National are all in agreement in who they are backing to triumph.
Speaking after hitting the opening tee shots of the week, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson all backed Rory McIlroy, with Nicklaus explaining why he is particularly confident about the Northern Irishman’s chances.
“I think Rory McIlroy will win the Masters this year, and I hope he does because it would give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam. He has the best swing in golf without a question. He’s the fittest golfer. He does a dead lift of 400 pounds. I don’t know if you’re aware of what a dead lift is. 400 pounds. If you do 100 pounds, it’s exceptional,” Player said.
“He went to Jack for advice on how to play this golf course. Nobody knows better than Jack. And I think timing in life, he’s had his adversities, his opportunities to win majors and let them slip. I think his time is right.
“I think it’s just the right time for him to win now. The golf course — there’s no golf course that suits a man better than it does for Rory.”
“I just have a gut feeling that Rory is the guy that’s going to win this week. That’s the bottom line. That’s my gut feeling,” Watson added.
“Well, ditto. Okay, move on,” Nicklaus said.
“I think the same as you two guys. I think it’s about time that Rory won. I sat down with Rory last week and we had lunch, and we were talking, and I said, Rory, I know you prepared for Augusta; tell me how you’re going to play the golf course.
“We went through it shot for shot. And he got done with the round, and I didn’t open my mouth. And I said, well, I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.
“The discipline to do that is — the discipline is what Rory has lacked in my opinion. He’s got all the shots. He’s got all the game. He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game.
“But if you look, go back and see his history the last few years, he gets to a place a lot of times an 8 or a 7 pops up, and that keeps you from getting to where he needs to go. I’m a big fan of Rory’s and I like Rory a lot, so that’s what I think.
“But I think obviously Scottie Scheffler is just coming back in again, he’s a defending champion, there’s nobody playing any better in the game than Scottie. Between the two of them, I think you’re going to find your winner.”
Why Jack Nicklaus believes Rory McIlroy has not won a major since 2014
Of course, talent is not the only concern for McIlroy. Ultimately, if major championships were decided by ability alone, McIlroy would have a lot more than four.
Unfortunately, he has picked up so many scars in the majors over the years. And speaking in 2024, Nicklaus suggested that McIlroy’s mental game appears to cost him at times.
“Well, it’s been a while for him, but I’m a big Rory fan. I’ve been a big Rory fan for a long time. He’s a good guy, and he’s a wonderful player, he’s got a great golf swing, plays a lot of great shots, and I don’t know where he loses it at times. But, you know, he seems to not be able to focus all the way around,” he said.
The worry for McIlroy is that he has not contended down the stretch at The Masters over the years. While he should have won in 2011, he was out of the mix early on on the back nine on Sunday. And he has never really got that close since.
Perhaps that will help if he gets himself in the running this time. Clearly, Nicklaus is confident that he has the right game-plan this year.
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