It took Tom Watson just four appearances to win the Masters and golf’s legendary statesman believes Rory McIlroy can win next April at his fifth Augusta showing.
Watson captured his first coveted green jackets in 1977 before being fitted for a second four years later and next year Watson will make the yearly drive down Magnolia Lane for a 40th occasion.
Tom Watson finishes two shots clear of Jack Nicklaus to win the 1977 Masters.
And the now 63-year old American is predicting the player who will be 40 years his junior next April will step forward to become the first Irishman to win at Augusta.
“I have been hearing Rory McIlroy’s name for a long time and he is certainly playing some very impressive golf,” said Watson ahead of this week’s Australian Open in Sydney.
“I’ve played alongside Rory before and what he continues to achieve is a tribute to how good the young man is.
“The manner in bouncing back from what happened to him at Augusta last year by winning the very next Major at Congressional just shows he’s got bottle.
“And given how he’s been playing in recent weeks, and now with two of the four individual Majors in his possession, I can’t see any reason why he can’t add a third by winning the Masters next April.
“He’s got the game for Augusta National as he hits the ball high and that’s one of the keys in playing Augusta, hitting the ball high.”
Just as impressed but then not nearly the legend that is Tom Watson is defending champion, Greg Chambers.
Chambers kept Tiger Woods at arm’s reach a year ago in Sydney to win the coveted Stonehaven Trophy for a second time.
The Australian also has played in PGA Tour events when McIlroy has been competing and he was initially lost for words when asked his view on McIlroy’s 2012 season.
“Wow, he’s good, isn’t he?” said Chambers.
“There are a couple of players who have an opportunity to really impact the game and change it and Rory is one of them.
“They become larger than their results from the fans’ standpoint and people latch onto them and worship them. It’s something I can’t relate to.
“I have not played with him yet and I haven’t seen him play. The stuff I see on TV is just phenomenal.
“When I first started out you would see some players and say, ‘I just can’t do that’.
“There are only a few guys like that. Tiger is one. They compress the ball at a power that you can’t recreate.
“Rory has a lot of great things in front of him. It is going to be great career to watch.”
