RORY OUT TO SLAM HIS RIVALS
GOLF: THE MASTERS Mac has one Major target left
THE mystique of the Masters has held the golfing world spellbound for decades. This week promises to be no different.
Nothing compares to Augusta, the place where dreams are broken and realised in equal measure for those striving to slip into that famous Green Jacket.
It is considered the greatest privilege in the game and 12 months ago it went to Danny Willett, who showed some Sheffield steel to hold his nerve and land the first Major of his career.
Some think his triumph proved to be a curse, considering Willett has rarely come close to winning another tournament since landing the biggest one of all.
But such is the power of the Masters that Willett insists just returning to this golfing heaven in the heart of Georgia gave him something to smile about again.
Willett is not expected to challenge again, but being here appears enough for him as he revels in the role of defending champion.
He is guaranteed to get his hands on the Green Jacket at least one more time. But if it isn’t him wearing it again, then who will he be ® presenting it to in the Butler Cabin? A record 11 Englishmen are competing this week, with veteran Lee Westwood and former US Open champion Justin Rose expected to lead the charge.
Matt Fitzpatrick will be hoping to improve on his tied-seventh finish last year, while debutant Tommy Fleetwood is high on confidence following a stellar start to 2017.
But history is against them. Willett was the first European, let alone Englishman, to win since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999.
Power
The smart money is on firm favourite Dustin Johnson, the world No.1 who has won his last three tournaments and is in the form of his life.
Johnson seems destined to win thanks to his incredible power and improved short game.
But the same has been said of Rory McIlroy since his Masters debut in 2009 and still the Northern Irishman has not got his hands on the most famous piece of clothing in sport.
Once again Europe’s talisman will go into the showdown as one of the favourites to come out on top.
If he does, then McIlroy will join the most illustrious club of all by completing the career Grand Slam of Majors.
But guarantees don’t exist in golf, especially at the Masters.
If they did, then stars like Ernie Els and Greg Norman would have been sitting down at Tuesday night’s Champions Dinner.
Jordan Spieth took his seat at the table, his mind turning to redemption as he looks to bury the demons of last year’s meltdown.
Fellow American Phil Mickelson still believes he can emulate Jack Nicklaus and win again at the age of 46, while rookie sensation Jon Rahm, from Spain, is considered the dark horse of the field.
There will be no Tiger Woods due to injury, but the excitement has still built up to a crescendo.
Yet the hopes and expectations are also tinged with sadness at the absence of one of the greatest Masters champions of all.
For the first time in memory, there will be no Arnold Palmer to hit the ceremonial opening tee shot at the crack of dawn.
The four-time Masters winner died last year, but organisers will pay tribute to a man who did so much to make this tournament great. So buckle up and let the drama begin.