A win for the Northern Irishman will see him become just the seventh player in history to earn a career slam after South Africa's Gary Player, as well as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.

McIlroy has trained at Augusta twice over the past two weeks and says the course is just not the same as in April.

“The course is still not the same as what it was in April, because it can't be.

“You guys can do a lot of things here at Augusta, but I don't think you are magicians.

“It's a little different, but that is to be expected.

“I think everyone is just looking forward to it. Everyone is just grateful that there is a Masters this year and we're playing in it.”

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen, Spain’s Jon Rahm, and the USA’s Bryson DeChambeau teed off this afternoon in what will be a very interesting match.

McIlroy in his turn will tee-off at 19:00 alongside world number one, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Cantley.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport