(Augusta) Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will share the field Thursday during the first round of the Masters Tournament, the first Major of the season, where the American will attempt a historic double while the Northern Irish golfer aims for the only Major missing his track record.
All refereed by Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, in search of a first Major, and players from LIV, the parallel circuit created by Saudi Arabia.
Five-time champion Tiger Woods and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon will also be at the start on Thursday: the first for his 26e participation and the second for his first.
Of the 89 players in the field, twenty have never before participated in the most prestigious golf tournament, with its signature holes, its devilish greens and its unique decorum of lush Georgia.
Scheffler will try to become the second player in history after Woods to win the Masters twice as world No.1, after his first victory in 2022. To date, he has not won any other Grand Slam tournament, but finished second in the 2022 U.S. Open and PGA Championship last year.
Well launched by his victory on March 17 at the Players Championship, the fifth unofficial Major, the 27-year-old American remained true to himself before the start of the event: disciplined and cool in his approach.
“I am happy with the way I have been playing since the start of the season,” he admitted, specifying that he did not want to “project too much into the future”.
Woods believes in McIlroy
“All I’m trying to do is put myself in a position to fight for victory and hope to achieve it,” he assures.
McIlroy has won four Majors, but the last one dates back to 2014 and the world No.2 still has not hung the green jacket of the winner of the Masters in his wardrobe.
PHOTO PHELAN M. EBENHACK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rory McIlroy
“I’m ready, all I have to do is go there, be relaxed and in the right state of mind,” warned the most popular player on the circuit who has finished six times in the top 10 during his last nine participations.
Woods, the man with 15 Majors, has no doubts about the Northern Irishman.
“There is no doubt that one day he will win it,” said the Tiger. He has the talent, the game and the course suits his eye. I think Rory will be a great Masters winner one day, and why not this week. »
As for his own chances, Woods will already be trying to make the cut for 24e times in a row, to surpass the record he currently holds with Fred Couples.
At 48 years old, and despite the pain linked to his major car accident in February 2021 and particularly debilitating on the hilly Augusta course, Woods believes he has his chances of donning the green jacket a sixth time to equal Jack Nicklaus’ record .
Rahm aims for double
“If everything falls into place, I think I will be able to win another one,” he assured.
The Spaniard Jon Rahm, world No.3, decided last December to join the LIV, but he will be one of the thirteen representatives of the lucrative Saudi circuit to present themselves at the start of the Masters.
Titled last year, Rahm hopes to become the fourth player after Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods to win the tournament two years in a row.