Rory McIlroy, whose emotional 2025 Masters victory completed an incredible career grand slam, chases an even rarer feat this year – repeating as champion at Augusta National.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland hopes to join Tiger Woods<\/a>, Jack Nicklaus<\/a>, and Nick Faldo<\/a> as the only golfers to capture back-to-back green jackets when the 90th Masters tees off Thursday.<\/p>\n “I know defending the Masters tournament is a pretty rare feat, and it’s something I’d love to do,” said McIlroy<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I’ve won it once and I feel like that will make it a bit easier for me to win again.”<\/p>\n McIlroy delivered an image for the ages when he fell to his knees last April after ending a 10-year major win drought by defeating Justin Rose<\/a> in a playoff to win the Masters.<\/p>\n McIlroy joined a career grand slam group that also includes Nicklaus, Woods, Gary Player<\/a>, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.<\/p>\n Oddsmakers have made top-ranked Scottie Scheffler<\/a> a slight favorite over world number two McIlroy, even though the defending champion said he has recovered from a back injury that forced him to withdraw last month at Bay Hill.<\/p>\n American Scheffler, a two-time Masters winner, took the American Express title in January and last year’s British Open and PGA Championship.<\/p>\n Scheffler, who withdrew from last month’s Houston Open as he and his wife are expecting their second child, is working on the mental aspects of his game.<\/p>\n “My expectations are all based around what I want mentally,” Scheffler said. “So far throughout this season, I’ve been really good in some spots and some other spots I feel like I can improve in terms of my commitment to the shot.”<\/p>\n Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, will not attend after pleading not guilty to DUI charges stemming from a March 27 car crash.<\/p>\n “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in,” Woods said. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.”<\/p>\n Masters chairman Fred Ridley and the PGA Tour supported the 15-time major winner’s decision.<\/p>\n Five Americans with multiple major titles seek their first green jacket — Justin Thomas<\/a>, Bryson DeChambeau<\/a>, Brooks Koepka<\/a>, Xander Schauffele<\/a>, and Collin Morikawa<\/a>, who withdrew from the PGA’s Texas Open with a sore back.<\/p>\n DeChambeau and Jon Rahm<\/a> from LIV Golf are also fancied by oddsmakers. DeChambeau won titles last month in South Africa and Singapore, while Rahm won in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n “I know I have to dial in my wedges. That’s going to be a big thing for me,” DeChambeau said when asked about the Masters.<\/p>\n “If I’m five more percent consistent, I have a better chance than what I did last year at the Masters.”<\/p>\n