McIlroy ready for the perfect storm

THE PESKY thunderstorms of the past few nights in the Augusta area have served as a reminder of how natural forces can interfere with the most thorough of preparations. An “i” can be dotted so many times, or a “t” crossed so often but, when push comes to shove, outside factors can influence destiny. Mud-balls, even on pristine fairways! Snap-hooks! Missed putts! No one, as Rory McIlroy discovered a year ago, is immune from whatever fate the golfing gods decree is yours.

For this 76th US Masters at Augusta National, McIlroy has returned a wiser man. Redemption, of a sort, is at hand; even if his own philosophy is the past is the past and he is here for the now.

What is indisputable is the 22-year-old Ulsterman’s stock, as much as the expectations of others, has never been higher. On a form-line of the world’s top players that has rarely been hotter coming into any Major, McIlroy’s – 2nd-1st-3rd in his last three outings – is the one that stands out and grabs the giddy anticipation of a Masters where so many forces appear set to collide.

If there were any area of concern for McIlroy, it would be he hasn’t played competitively in three weeks since a third-place finish behind Justin Rose in the WGC-Cadillac championship.

Worried? Not a bit. “If you look at the way I play, I usually do well the first week back, whether it’s the first week of the season (or after a break) . . . I feel ready to go. I think it works well for me,” responded McIlroy.

Indeed, the storms that ripped through on Tuesday night – dousing 1.4 inches of rain on the course – left its mark with fallen trees and debris and a number of bunkers washed out, but nothing that impinged on the final preparations for the championship.

It was a nuisance, but the weather forecast for the first two rounds promises more weather fronts that could yet prove disruptive.

Weather stoppages and such like are part and parcel of the game, although a wetter course – even with the SubAir underground vacuum system – could yet play into the hands of the longer hitters. No worries there for the likes of McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Lee Westwood of the big guns.

And left-hander Bubba Watson will love it too. Perhaps a doubt or two, though, for world number one Luke Donald. We’ll see.

For sure, the scene has been set for a perfect storm, in a golfing sense.

Woods’ revival as a winner has certainly added spice to the season’s first Major examination. That he managed to finish fourth here for the past two years with what amounted to his “B” game reaffirms how the four-time Masters champion manages to find a way to score around Augusta. If he brings his “A” game, a first win since 2005 is very much on the cards.

And yet history tells us that outsiders can and do win, no less than in recent years when, apart from Mickelson’s wins of 2006 and 2010, the rest of the sequence since Woods’ last victory has seen Zach Johnson, Trevor Immelman, Angel Cabrera and, last year, Charl Schwartzel lay claim to a famed green jacket. So, although the course produces its share of repeat winners, a la Woods going for a fifth and Mickelson going for a fourth, there is also a flip coin. Whoever plays the best will win.

With four Irishmen in the field, albeit one of them akin to the walking wounded, and all of them Major winners in their own right, the stage is perhaps set to claim the only Major that has eluded this golden generation in recent years in a time when two British Opens, two US Opens and one PGA have been annexed.

In maintaining that “in and around the greens is what it is all about here,” 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell – fighting fit and raring to go – claimed he couldn’t recall so many players hitting form at the one time heading into a Major. “It’s great for the game, with obviously Tiger playing well, Rory back here to perhaps settle the score from last year and Phil . . . so many guys playing great. Westwood. Donald. Hunter Mahan. Keegan Bradley. There are a lot of quality players and guys who can win. And they are fearless.”

The most fearless of all? Once upon a time, you’d have put your bottom dollar on Woods. Times have changed. It’s a wide open field . . . and, yet, the hot form of those at the top of the world rankings would indicate less room than ever for someone to spring from the crowd. Pádraig Harrington claims to be up for it. So too G-Mac. And McIlroy is always up for it these days, always contending.

Out on Washington Road, the freeway off which Augusta National Golf Club lies, there is a sign for a local psychic by the name of Angel, who offers palm and crystal readings predicting the future. In this case, nobody but nobody can predict how this one will go. It promises to be one heck of a tournament.

AUGUSTA NATIONAL: The Lowdown

WEATHER FORECAST

THE forecast for the opening two rounds is for unsettled weather. Today's forecast is cloudy with showers and strong-to-severe thunderstorms with a low of 16 degrees and high of 27 degrees.

Tomorrow's forecast is for showers and thunderstorms in the morning with a low of 14 degrees and high of 19 degrees.

Saturday and Sunday will see a significant improvement in weather conditions with plenty of sunshine to help dry the course.

THE 76th MASTERS

Course: Augusta National Golf Club was designed by famed Scottish course architect Alister MacKenzie, the course has been extended regularly since Tiger Woods's first Masters win in 1997. The Par 4 11th hole – known as White Dogwood – was ranked the toughest in last year's championship, averaging 4.331 over the four rounds. The Par 5 13th – Azalea – was ranked the easiest, averaging 4.581.

Yardage: 7,445; Par: 72

Low winning total: 270 (-18) Tiger Woods (1997)

Course record:63 Nick Price (1986), Greg Norman (1996)

Field: 96 players (91 professionals, 5 amateurs)

Cut: After 36 holes, low 44 players and ties (plus players within 10 shots of the leader).

Defending champion: Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)

Irish in the field: Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke

HOW THEY BET

5/1 Tiger Woods

6/1 Rory McIlroy

11/1 Phil Mickelson

13/1 Luke Donald

20/1 Lee Westwood

28/1 Justin Rose

30/1 Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan

33/1 Adam Scott

35/1 Jason Day

45/1 Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel

50/1 Steve Stricker

60/1 KJ Choi, Nick Watney, Matt Kuchar

66/1 Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Bo Van

Pelt, Graeme McDowell

Other Irish

90/1 Pádraig Harrington

300/1 Darren Clarke

TYPE OF PLAYER SUITED TO THE CHALLENGE

Courage and nerves are a prerequisite. It is the most intimidating venue of them all and US players often find the experience overwhelming.

Those with their eye on a Green Jacket must have a razor-sharp short game. Length off the tee is a significant advantage and will set up the track for birdies, which is the case this year, particularly with thunderstorms set to soften the layout.

Finding the right section of the green on approach is paramount, so course knowledge and precision iron play is key. If you are having a flutter you should side with those players with plenty of Masters experience.

KEY ATTRIBUTE

Touch

WHERE TO WATCH

Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm tonight. Setanta Ireland's live coverage begins at 8pm. BBC will have live coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

PRIZEMONEY

€6 million (€1 million to the winner)

TIME DIFFERENCE

Georgia is five hours behind Ireland