Tiger’s back ... but put your money on Big Mac COACHING LEGEND HARMON TIPS RORY OVER FORMER PUPIL FOR AUGUSTA GLORY
BUTCH HARMON has backed Rory McIlroy to beat Tiger Woods to the title in potentially “the most exciting Masters of all time”.
The two biggest names in golf have found welcome hot form just before the first Major of the season.
McIlroy, 28, ended his 18-month run without a win by claiming the Arnold Palmer Invitational in stunning style last month.
And Woods, who has had four spinal surgeries since his 14th Major triumph at the 2008 US Open, has finished in the top five of his last two PGA Tour events.
Harmon, who set Woods on the road to super stardom when he coached him to his first Masters title in 1997, claimed the 42-yearold winning in Augusta this week would be “up there” with Jack Nicklaus’ epic triumph in 1986.
But the swing guru said: “Tiger is not the realistic favourite. We’ve all been surprised at how well he’s played. It’s been phenomenal for the game. And we all hope that he goes to Augusta and plays well because it just makes it that much more exciting.
“But I don’t really think we have seen how he can handle the big event. He knows the course at Augusta better than anyone but it is a different animal there.
“He has got to drive the ball better to have a chance. In past tournaments we’ve seen him go to his driving iron off the tee, but you can’t do that at Augusta. You’re going to have to drive it. My money would be on Rory this year. I was very 9/1 10/1 11/1 12/1 28 0 4th 4 42 4 1st 14
12/1 12/1 14/1 20/1 impressed with him when he won and how much better he putted. He’s always been a fantastic driver of the ball, as you have to do at Augusta. So I really like his chances. I would make him the favourite.” Woods has returned a different golfer after his operations – and more open and engaging with fans after years of unblinking focus. But if he is in contention next Sunday afternoon, Harmon expects his ex-pupil to rediscover his ruthless streak. “He knows how to get into that zone to play hard,” added the Las Vegas-based former pro.
“But you are seeing a more mature Tiger Woods at 42 years old. He’s been humbled with what’s happened to him in his life, brought on by himself, and I find him to be very similar to what he was 10 to 15 years ago.
“I was around him at the Farmers tournament in San Diego and he was fun, he was engaging. He seemed to be engaging more with the fans, which is good.”
Sky Sports analyst Harmon, who will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of his father Claude’s 1948 Masters win, said: “We are going to see a fantastic back nine next Sunday.
“You are going to see five or six guys with a chance to win and those guys, they know who they are. I’m looking forward to it.
“This could be the most exciting Masters of all time. We have got the cream of the crop playing at the top of their game at a spectacular venue.”