Golf
Player tips McIlroy at Masters
2012-04-02 13:16
Cape Town - Gary Player has picked Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy as a likely winner of this week’s Masters at Augusta National.
South African Player, one of only five men to win golf’s Grand Slam of the four Majors, says: “I have to favour Rory McIlory this year. You remember last year he was playing so well and was leading and he had that collapse in the final round with an 80. I think Rory has a little revenge in his heart for the golf course.
“The way he recovered from that upset at the US Open a couple of months later showed what maturity he has. I was delighted he won the Breakthrough of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in February.”
Player also thinks Tiger Woods will be a force at Augusta after his recent victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him drive the ball well in a long time. He’s going to be very, very tough at Augusta. He knows the course, he’s confident and he’s had a tough time for two years and he’s very hungry.”
Player, who has played in 52 Masters, a record, and has won three times and been second three times, will be an official starter at Augusta this week with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
The Masters runs from April 5-8.