Could it be a year? Rory McIlroy's four-year-old daughter Poppy knocked down a monster putt in a three-shot match on the eve of the 89th Masters, which undoubtedly suggests that omens may be favorable in the end.
Apart from the civil war between the PGA Tour and the upstart LIV Golf and the Tiger Woods keeping healthy battle, a storyline looms in the golf world, which is the biggest for over a decade: McIlroy’s still elusive Augusta wins its first victory.
The victory of the most prestigious game in golf this weekend will allow the Northern Ireland star to finally finish his career grand slam, ending a painful 11-year wait. Since he won the third major title at Real Liverpool in 2014, the burden of waiting has been shrouded in huge burdens, leaving only one final obstacle.
Now, with the stars seemingly consistent again, the question is bigger than ever: Can McIlroy ensure that the victory brings him to the great elite of all time, and legends like Jack Nicklaus and his hero Tiger Woods?
See also: How to watch the 2025 Masters: TV schedule, serving time, best streaming options
Every April brings new hope and familiar weights – close misses and Sunday sliding haunts the ghosts of the azalea. The 35-year-old's collapse at the 2011 Masters, shot 80 shots on the final day, from four-shot lead to 15 tie, remained a career low, while he finished second in 2022 and finished three in 2022 and trailed three in Scottie Scheffler.
But, this year there was a different feeling. McIlroy not only has a form, but also has a sense of freedom.
The Ulster native scored a victory at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, starting the season, leading 21 strokes and two strokes ahead of his closest rival, Irish Irish Shane Lowry.
Building on that momentum, McIlroy won the second player title last month at TPC Sawgrass, showing a lot of courage in the three-hole playoffs against JJ Spaun.
The wins mark him as the sole player at Augusta Field this year and won multiple PGA Tours ahead of this weekend's big show.
McIlroy's statistics also paint a promising situation – his driving distance average is an impressive 315.1 yards, while his average birdie average per round is 4.35, suggesting his shooting game is checking Augusta's challenging greens.
McIlroy realizes the obvious obstacle to his dream in Georgia is another interesting narrative for the weekend: Scottie Scheffler pursues historic back-to-back master victory.
To date, no wins this year so far, 2024 Player of the Year remains the Bookies defending their championship and joining the famous team of Nicklaus, Woods and Nick Faldo, the only one who has won in Augusta for several consecutive years.
Spain's Jon Rahm is also still a low-key threat, entering this year's game for his defection to Liv.
Still, McIlroy seems to be in a relaxed state of mind before this year’s green jacket. “I feel good,” he told reporters as he accumulates. “I'm in a good place. My game, my body, my body, everything, I feel good. I'm excited for the week.”
Can Poppy's heroism in Augusta's last hole bring the ultimate spark of inspiration to her father, thus helping him gain status among the historical greats in the game?
You can watch all Augusta’s plays by following our guide to Masters 2025.
