Golf writer and broadcaster Bob Bubka is backing Rory McIlroy to claim a career Grand Slam this week in The Masters.
The Northern Irishman heads to Augusta with the opportunity to become only the sixth player in the Masters era to win all four majors, having already won The Open, the US Open and the PGA Championship.
And Bubka believes McIlroy’s differing approach to this year’s event could prove to be the decisive factor in claiming a coveted green jacket.
“My European pick, so to speak, is Rory McIlroy,” Bubka told Off The Ball.
“I like what I saw at the Arnold Palmer. I like the 64 he shot on Sunday. I like the way that he drove the ball on Sunday. And I like that the caddy will have played the golf course a couple of weeks before the Masters.
“He’s obviously looking at it through fresh eyes. He doesn’t have the scars of what happened to Rory in the past here. I really fancy Rory this week. There’s really no reason why Rory can’t join that illustrious list of players. Rory McIlroy is a solid bet for me.”
Four-time Masters winner, Tiger Woods, returns to Augusta after missing the past two editions through injury.
Woods’ return to the course after back fusion surgery has led to talk of the American completing golf’s greatest comeback.
And Bupka is refusing to put another Masters triumph past the 42-year-old.
“You’ve got to have a serious look at Tiger winning his fifth green jacket which would put him within three major victories of Jack Nicklaus and one of the six green jackets won by Jack Nicklaus,” Bubka added.
“I was lucky enough to be here in 1986 and I will say this. In advance of this event, everybody says the 86’ Masters was the greatest Masters ever played. If Tiger wins it will surpass what we saw in 86’ by leaps and bounds.”
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