McIlroy gets the Nicklaus backing

JACK Nicklaus believes Rory McIlroy is the man to beat in the Masters as he seeks to complete the career grand slam with a victory at Augusta National.

A resurgent Tiger Woods, 2015 winner Jordan Spieth, US PGA champion Justin Thomas and world No 1 Dustin Johnson are among the favourites for the year’s first major championship.

However, six-time Masters champion Nicklaus feels McIlroy should be top of the betting market following his impressive victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month.

“I talked to him this weekend and saw a few things and he is really swinging well, the best I’ve ever seen him swing,” Nicklaus said. “He obviously putted well at Bay Hill so he’s going to be tough to beat.

“If you picked anybody he’d be the No 1 to pick and rightly so. He’s probably playing better than anyone else.”

McIlroy admits he feels the pressure of attempting to join Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only players to have won all four Major titles.

However, Nicklaus believes the Masters is the easiest one to win due to the limited field and type of game which suits Augusta National.

“You play it every year, you can prepare for it easier, once you play the greens you should know them,” Nicklaus said.

“If you’re not a long, high-ball player you can eliminate half the field before you even start.

“No tournament is easy to win, don’t misunderstand me but, of the Majors, a top player has a better shot here than any other place.”

TONY Finau is optimistic of making his Masters debut after he suffered an injury in the pre-tournament par-three contest.

Finau was running backwards in celebration of an ace when his left ankle buckled underneath him. The 28-year-old dislocated it.