Rory McIlroy is looking for the career grand slam. Scottie Scheffler seeks his third green jacket. Those are easy picks to win the Masters. Who else?
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Golf’sversionoftheDaytona500startsitsengineThursdayinAugusta,Georgia,wheretheMastersmakesits89thappearanceasthegame’sbiggesteventschedulednearthestartoftheseason.WhatbeganasafunlittlesocialeventforBobbyJonesandfriendshasbecomeamega-millionbusinessand,moreimportantlytonon-snowbirds,theharbingerofspringgolfinthenorth.
Incolderclimes,theMastersmeanstimetotossthesticksinthetrunkandhitthelinks.Thoselinksusuallyhitback,butfinallybeingabletoteeitupisgloriousallthesame.
ForRoryMcIlroy,theMastersmeansevenmore.Onlyfiveplayershaveachievedgolf’smodern-eracareergrandslamofwinningthefourmajors:Masters,PGAChampionship,U.S.OpenandBritishOpen—ortheOpenChampionship,astheyprefertocallitacrossthepond.Thefirstfour-timerwasGeneSarazen,followedbyBenHogan,GaryPlayer,JackNicklausandTigerWoods.
McIlroyhaswonthreedifferentmajorsamonghisfourtotal.HeownsoneU.S.Opentitle(2011)
