Everything seems to be falling into place for Rory McIlroy to become the first Irish-born winner of the Masters.
Six years after making his debut and three years after his infamous meltdown McIlroy already has his arms outstretched for Aussie Adam Scott to slip on the green jacket.
There’s no Tiger Woods, there’s equipment issues and there’s no mind or body concern.
And the big overhanging branch down the left side of the 10th fairway and that McIlroy collected is gone, and a victim of the recent ice storm that brought down the Eisenhower Tree.
The absence of Woods has already been a big blow to the Augusta green jacket brigade, and with ticket sales down some 20% a day after the 14-time Major winner indicated he was would not be competing.
There’s still the usual number of ticket scalpers lining Washington Road but it will be in the TV ratings where Woods first-ever absence since making his debut in 1995 will be felt.
Woods also did not attend Tuesday night’s Champions Dinner and along with the 91-year old Texan Jack Burke Jnr (1956 Masters winner) they were the only two not present.
And it’s strange not seeing Woods’ name on the main Augusta leader board down the right side of the first hole with the alphabetical order of players ending – Gary Woodland, Ian Woosnam and Y E Yang.
Woods has won just as many green jackets as Arnold Palmer, and while Palmer will join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for today’s (THU) ceremonial tee-off, Palmer confessed he was virtually sick and tired of the all the fuss surrounding Woods’ absence.
These three girls raised plenty of eyebrows within the exclusive grounds of the Augusta National clubhouse and Rory McIlroy will be looking to wearing a green jacket come Sunday. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“You know, lately, I’ve heard so much about Tiger and opinions; opinions are about what you pay for them, and most of us don’t pay much attention.”
McIlroy led for three rounds here in 2011 before dropping eight shots to finish tied for 15th.
He made up for it with victory in the US Open later that year and the US PGA Championship the season after.
But while memories of his fourth-round implosion are still raw, the 24-year-old believes this could be the perfect place to assume his control over the sport.
“Golf’s in a funny place at the minute,” said McIlroy.
“You are getting so many different winners and there are not as many guys dominating the sport like in the past with Tiger, Vijay (Singh) and Phil (Mickelson).
“I’d like to establish myself as that sort of player and someone’s got to step up so I’m trying to be that person and it would be a great place to start next week.”
McIlroy’s putting coach, Dave Stockton wound-up his pre-Master work with McIlroy on Tuesday afternoon.
He had remarked last week in Houston that McIlroy is in a best place mind, body and clubs going into any Major.
And the captain who led the States to Ryder Cup victory in 1991 at Kiawah Island, and where 21 years later McIlroy celebrated his PGA Championship success, was just as strong-minded on what McIlroy can achieve this week.
“He’s one win away from winning a whole bunch,” said Stockton.
“When he’s on he obviously can get them and he’s in a good place. He looks really good. He’s ready to go.
“He’s won his two Majors by apiece – it’s just a matter of things going his way. He learned a lot from his debacle in 2011 – he came right back- and he certainly has the game for this golf course.
“The longer hitters have to be loving the rain that fell on Monday and he certainly qualifies as one of those.
“You either have to have the long game or the short game here and with the rain it has tilted to those with the long game a little bit. It’s going to be a longer course for the average hitter.”
McIlroy will tee-up at 10.52am local time (3.52pm Irish) while fellow Irish Graeme McDowell heads out the Irish at 9.35am (2.35pm).
