Three players looking to deny Rory McIlroy Grand Slam glory at Augusta National believe the World No.1 will revel in next week’s Masters media spotlight.

The trio are reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer, past Irish Open winner Paul Casey and McIlroy’s good friend Rickie Fowler as Mclroy strives to become only the sixth golfer in the history of the game to win all four Majors.

And unless Tiger Woods confirms he will compete it will be te World No.1 ranked McIlroy the world’s sport media will target.

Kaymer added this week’s Shell Houston Open to his schedule after the San Antonio shock of posting an 82 and 80 in last week’s Valero Texas Open.

Paul Casey in the media spotlight after his round of 68 and remarking Rory McIlroy should capably handle next week’s Masters media attention. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“Rory is mature enough to handle it and we’ve seen before how he’s handled matters going on his life, so I don’t think it will make a big difference to him,” said Kaymer ahead of posting a Shell Houston Open first round 70.

“For the rest of us teeing-up at Augusta we will have enough to do ourselves than to be worrying about Rory.

“But then I do hope that Rory does win the Masters one day, and if happens this year or in coming years, that would be great for him.

“If it one of those things that we all want and that is to win at least one Major Championship in our career but then like both Rory and myself, if you win a few you then want to try and win more.”

Casey, and winner of the 2013 Irish Open at Carton House, was in the second group out on day one of the $US 6.6m event and despite bogeying his last two including finding water off the tee at the last, he was delighted to shoot a four under par 68.

The 37-year old, who has forfeited his European Tour to concentrate purely on the PGA Tour, will be making his ninth Augusta appearance but a first in three years, after being one of the last few to qualify last week off the World Rankings.

“It’s going to make it so much easier for all of us, of course, the media spotlight will be on Rory,” said Casey.

“Then that’s fine with me as he deserves that media spotlight and you guys can follow him around all day and whatever nine he is playing his practice round I will go out on the other nine (smiling).

“But I hope also Tiger plays next week because if he is ready to play then we would all love to see him compete.

“I’ve played with Tiger many a time at the Masters and I’m a golf fan as I would love to be the guy who is going down the stretch with Tiger and with him playing his best golf again.

“That’s what you want as a fellow player and that’s what the true golf fans want to see.”

Casey capped his opening Texas round with two eagles at the fourth and 14th holes and holing respective putts of 14 feet and 22 feet.

However after losing out in a play-off recently in Los Angeles and then finishing third a week later in Florida, Casey is primed to win for only a second time on the PGA Tour and again in America’s fourth largest city.

“I managed to turn a six under into a four under but I had some good breaks out there today but just made a couple of poor swings coming down the stretch,” he said.

“So I only have myself to blame but then I did a great job making bogeys on 16 and there at 18.

“I don’t feel bad about that as that’s good to say as for me this week is all about not getting caught up too much thinking about Augusta.

“Physically I feel really good and I spent a lot of last week on the bike and it’s just the mental freshness you need to maintain and take to next week.”

Fowler was early into his first round but when approached on the Golf Club of Houston range remarked: “There’s going to be pressure on every single player next week, and everyone will be trying to do their own thing.

“It’s true that Rory’s definitely going to be a little more under the spotlight but then knowing Rory as well as I do he’ll be more than capable of handling it all”.

American Scott Piercy posted a nine under par 63 to lead the event by two shots and with Phil Mickelson already well-placed at six under par to be sharing fourth place.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia bounced back from a fourth hole double bogey to shoot a five under par 67 and be tied with French-born Ryder Cup winning colleague Victor Dubuisson.