Mark McMahon live from Augusta ahead of Rory McIlroy’s opening round.
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00:00Hello and welcome to Augusta National in Georgia, the home of the 89th edition of the Masters and the first major of the 2025 golfing season.
00:11My name is Mark McMahon and I'll be here for the next four days to provide you with all the latest reports, reactions, gossip and colour, all for the newsletter, which you can see on the website and in the paper over the next four days.
00:22This is the sixth year I've been at the Masters and despite the world-class facilities, the world-class fields and the sheer magic that is Augusta National, the only reason why I'm here yet again is because of Rory McIlroy.
00:36It's the only major that has eluded the Ulster man so far in his career and this 2025 is his 11th attempt at completing the Grand Slam and joining only five others in completing the Holy Grail of golf.
00:49Gene Saracen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and of course Tiger Woods, they've all went before him and they're the names that Rory is trying to emulate here in 2025.
01:01His last major obviously was 2014, the USPGA at Valhalla. That took his tally to four majors but as I say, this is the one that he wants to complete the Grand Slam and as spring sets in here in Georgia, it's the one that everybody's talking about.
01:18Can he finally win a Masters in that famous green jacket?
01:24As normal, Rory is one of the favourites behind Scotty Sheffield to win this green jacket this year and that's not surprising.
01:31He's been in the top three of the world's golf for many a year, as long as I can remember and he actually likes playing at Augusta National.
01:40Seven top ten finishes, four top five, including a runners-up spot, shows that he knows the course very well, even if he hasn't been able to bring home that alluded prize.
01:51As I say, this year's no different. He's one of the favourites and in fact this year could be one of the more positive years going into the Masters.
01:58Bear in mind that Rory has already won two titles on the PGA Tour, the AT&T at Pebble Beach and of course the Players' Championship at Sawgrass last month.
02:08There's also the small matter of Scotty Sheffield. He hasn't been in peak condition in the build-up to this year.
02:15Bear in mind that he cut his hand creating ravioli on Christmas Day, so he hasn't really been at full flow just yet.
02:22So that there gives Rory plenty of optimism and in fact Rory himself comes into the tournament knowing or saying himself that he's never felt better coming into this week.
02:31So when's the start form? It starts today, Thursday. He tees off at 12 minutes past six back home in Northern Ireland and he's in the company of Swedish Raider Cup team mate Ludwig Eiburg and then also the USA's Ache Batia.
02:52They tee off today at 1-12, 6-12 back home and it's one of the main featured groups this afternoon with some big, big names in the featured groups going on later on in the day.
03:07It's a fascinating three ball, but as I say, either side of it, you've got the likes of Brooks Koepke, you've got Xander Shoffley, two-time major winner last year.
03:15He's played alongside Victor Hovland. They go out just before Rory and Cole at one minute past one, which is one minute past six back home.
03:25And then obviously you've got the likes of Shane Laurie, Bryson DeChambeau and Hideki Matsuyama in the group immediately behind McElroy and they tee off at 1-23, 6-23 back home as I say as usual.
03:38And again, just to share their presence is going to be such a fascinating afternoon of golf and no doubt there'll be plenty of people from back home watching on both here in Georgia and at home hoping that they'll be able to bring home that prize jacket.
03:54For those interested in Scott Sheffield, he's one of the earlier ones, he tees off at 10-15 local time, 15 minutes past three back home.
04:04So again, he could be setting the early pace as many as expecting as one of the early starters.
04:09So the scene is set here, the weather's good, the shorts are rolling, McElroy might even have got some inspiration from what's in Daughter Poppy to steal the show at the Power 3 yesterday.
04:20But yeah, it really is down to Rory now to deliver.
04:25He's had two below 70 starts to the Masters.
04:302011 he shot at 65 and 2018 at 69.
04:34It'd be great if he was able to get off to another fast start here so that we can eventually stop talking about Rory winning the Masters.
04:42So yeah, it's all set for here. Hopefully this time tomorrow we'll be talking again about a decent round from Rory.
04:48As I say, I'll be here for the rest of the week to ride you with video, reaction, coverage, all from Augusta.
04:54Until then, I'll see you. Goodbye!
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