AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy had the inexperienced jacket on his shoulders and an unlimited weight off his again when he seemed forward to the ninetieth version of the Masters with a query and a coy smile.

“What are we going to speak about subsequent yr?” he mentioned.

Subsequent yr has arrived. The Masters begins on Thursday, April 9, and McIlroy shall be spared the questions that dogged him for almost 15 years whether or not he might ever conquer Augusta Nationwide.

Now that burden falls to those that have felt that they had one arm within the coveted jacket, an inventory that features Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.

To grasp how badly they and everybody else desires to be a Masters champion is to see McIlroy drop to his knees on the 18th inexperienced when he rolled in that 3-foot birdie putt on the primary playoff to beat Rose, chest heaving with emotion, an exhale almost as sturdy because the wind.

There was as a lot pleasure as reduction.

Augusta Nationwide enthralls and torments, all a part of the drama that unfolds over 4 days on a stage that delivers among the best theater in golf.

“Augusta checks off that psychological field due to historical past, realizing the holes coming and realizing what guys have performed,” Schauffele mentioned.

Schauffele speaks from expertise. The 2-time main champion has had two shut calls on the Masters — a runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2019, and the final man to problem Hideki Matsuyama in 2021 till an 8-iron he thought was excellent discovered water left of the par-3 sixteenth.

The Masters will not embrace five-time champion Woods for the second yr in a row.

He was concerned in one other automotive crash on March 27. He was arrested on suspicion of driving beneath the affect and entered a not responsible plea. He mentioned he would take an indefinite depart to get therapy, and a Martin County, Florida, choose granted a movement for Woods to go away the nation to get the assistance he wants.

By all accounts, the Masters would appear to be the best of the majors to win. Not solely does it have the smallest subject — fewer than 100 gamers for the final 60 years — but it surely contains six amateurs and 7 Masters champions now eligible for the senior circuit. Practically one-quarter of the sector is enjoying for the primary time, and no Masters rookie has gained for the reason that late Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

However the historical past is wealthy. The enchantment of being a Masters champion — a lifetime invitation — is robust.

“Golf is such a psychological sport, it actually ticks that field when it comes to being onerous to win,” Schauffele mentioned. “You’ve a one-shot lead going into 18 at Augusta, these bushes have gotten lots greater and that window has gotten lots smaller.”

A few of these newcomers add to the intrigue. Three of them — Chris Gotterup, Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman — are among the many prime 20 on the earth rating.

Gotterup is the one PGA Tour participant to have gained twice earlier than the Masters. Casey Jarvis of South Africa, one other Masters newcomer, gained back-to-back weeks on the European tour (Kenya Open, South African Open). DeChambeau at LIV Golf is the one different two-time winner this yr.

Gotterup took a scouting journey in early March.

“That is the one … course the place not having performed I do know each gap there,” he mentioned. “Everybody watches the Masters and is aware of Augusta Nationwide.”

Golf followers could have waited 263 days since Scottie Scheffler gained the British Open at Royal Portrush final summer time till the primary tee shot Thursday on the Masters, and the anticipation is as nice as ever.

McIlroy, who turned the sixth participant to seize the profession Grand Slam together with his Masters victory, now units out to hitch Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the one back-to-back winners.

He gained twice going into the Masters final yr, and now has performed six instances — together with a withdrawal on the weekend at Bay Hill with muscle spasms in his again — with solely two possibilities at successful. However it is a completely different Masters, one with out suffocation expectations.

He picked the menu for the Masters Membership dinner. He has his parking spot within the champions’ lot and a locker upstairs within the Augusta Nationwide clubhouse for Masters champions solely.

“It is all going to be about having fun with my week,” he mentioned. “The factor is, I do know I get to return to the Masters Match for the remainder of my life. And that is fairly a releasing feeling.”

He and Scheffler, the highest two gamers on the earth, every took off three weeks resulting in the Masters. Adam Scott in 2013 is the final participant to win after being away from competitors that lengthy.

Scheffler’s break was not by design. He withdrew from the Houston Open to return dwelling to Dallas for the approaching beginning of his second baby. Scheffler is the betting favourite at each event he performs, a product of getting gained 23 instances worldwide the final 4 years, and being No. 1 on the earth for almost three years straight. Woods is the one different participant with such sustained dominance.

His type has taken a slight dip, at the least by his requirements — two straight finishes out of the highest 20 after 18 straight prime 10s. However then, Scheffler additionally has gained the Masters twice within the final 4 years, each instances strolling as much as the 18th inexperienced main by at the least 4 pictures.

The most popular participant in golf is one hardly ever seen — DeChambeau, who performed within the last group with McIlroy final yr and is coming off back-to-back wins in playoffs on LIV Golf, one in Singapore, the opposite in South Africa.

DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, determine to be the strongest hopes for the Saudi-funded league, which has 11 gamers within the subject. Rahm additionally has a rating to settle from final yr, when he contended in just one main on the PGA Championship earlier than fading late.

Rahm additionally has cause to be brooding over his countless battle on the European tour, refusing to pay fines for enjoying LIV Golf occasions. At stake is his eligibility for the Ryder Cup subsequent yr. For now, his focus is difficult for an additional inexperienced jacket. He is aware of the sensation in addition to anybody.

“I hope I win,” Rahm mentioned at his most up-to-date LIV occasion in South Africa. “I’m going to strive my finest and hope I can get a second inexperienced jacket. That’s the purpose.”

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf