When Rory McIlroy won the Zurich Classic last year with Shane Lowry, he chose Journey's Don't Stop Believin' as his traditional karaoke celebration.
He says this is because it is one of the few songs he knows the words to, and the lyrics easily convey the message as the Northern Irishman's efforts to end his drought continue.
Any Masters trophy to add to the four he won between 2011 and 2014 would be coveted, but a first Masters title would mean far more, as it would make McIlroy only the sixth player to win a Grand Slam title in his career.
Ten attempts to achieve that feat have yielded six top-10 finishes, though frankly McIlroy's only real chance at winning came in 2018.
In the final group with eventual champion Patrick Reed, McIlroy made an eagle putt on the second hole to tie for the lead, but missed and lost two of his next three, finishing with a 74.
McIlroy's second-place finish in 2022 behind Scottie Scheffler was also made possible by a career-high 64 in the final round after starting the day 10 down, but it is he and Scheffler who are currently dominating the pre-season betting this year.
Scheffler won his second green jacket 12 months ago and is seeking a third victory at Augusta National in four years, while McIlroy won twice on the PGA Tour before the Masters – at Pebble Beach and Sawgrass – for the first time in his career.
“Every year I come back with the goal of winning this tournament and after starting this year I don't feel like I've ever been in better shape heading into this week,” McIlroy said.
Scheffler's form in 2025 has not lived up to his lofty standards, with a runner-up finish at the Houston Open having seen the world number one's campaign start delayed by a hand injury sustained while preparing Christmas dinner.
Three-time winner Sir Nick Faldo called it “ominous” for the rest of the title contenders, including Open and US PGA champion Xander Schauffele and US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, who led after an opening 65 last year.
Almost six months later, Augusta National Park and
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
