Dustin Johnson has plenty of momentum entering Masters

McIlroy played 27 holes at Augusta two weeks ago, 54 more last week and 18 more so far this week.

Of course, Official World Golf Ranking points and the PGA Tour money list might not have as much influence over the results as the weather; an expected downpour on Wednesday could sufficiently soak the course. Patrons and players knew what they were getting into this year, and they know it won’t take away from all the other wonders the Augusta National has to offer.

No one doubts that Spieth will get another shot at the green jacket. That is because of 1997 and the milestone victory of his inspiration and now friend, Tiger Woods.

In 2014, Fowler shared fifth at the Masters for his best showing yet at Augusta National.

He had reason to think this would be the first Grand Slam he won.

“I ve got a lot of confidence in my game right now, especially with the way I ve been playing the last few tournaments”. While Mickelson is 46 and can’t hit the ball as consistently as he used to, he almost won the Masters two years ago when he finished tied for second. You want to win the tournament that week. The more frankly he spoke about preparing for and playing one of the most important events of his professional life in the wake of the news about his mother, the more reporters drew him out. He also shared second at the USA and British Opens and third in the PGA Championship. Jordan Spieth was on his way to defending his title in Sunday’s final round a year ago only to find a watery grave twice into Rae’s Creek and take a quadruple bogey at 12, helping England’s Danny Willett take the title. McIlroy didn’t make a birdie in the third round, shot 77 and tied for 10th.

“I’ve know idea”, said Johnson, who has three wins on the spin and is the undisputed favourite for the green jacket.

“I feel bad for Lexi, because maybe she would have won the tournament if that hadn’t happened”, said world No12 Rahm. “I’m certainly flying way under the radar but that’s absolutely fine”. “If you ask every single player, that wouldn’t be a question”.

McIlroy has made a believer out of 81-year-old South African legend Gary Player.

That, too, might be an advantage.

Not all Masters memories are happy ones, however.

“But he’s such a competitor that he can’t come out and play half of what he did”. He had a 36-hole lead at the Mexico Championship until a 70-71 weekend.

“It’s a amusing game”.

“I fully don’t expect guys to finish everything”, he said.

“I feel for him”, O’Meara said after speaking to Woods at the Champions Dinner at Augusta.

At 27, McIlroy can not forget what happened to him at Augusta when he was 21.

McIlroy accepted an invitation to play with the President in February and later defended his decision after claiming he had been branded “a fascist and a bigot”.

“It’s going to be tough to hit the greens”.