The Masters 2019: first round – live! | sport

It seems only yesterday. Rory McIlroy arrived at Augusta National on Sunday, April 10, 2011 as the leader of the 54-hole Masters. He had four strokes on the ground. He was still leading on the 10th tee. But not for very long. His car hit a tree and ricocheted to nearby cabins. He finished with a triple-seven. He lost his head, he made three shots on 11 and four out of 12, and he started his training at 13 in Rae's Creek. "Well, that's not what we planned!", He joked after shooting 80, to finish tied for 15th in what appeared to be a race for a horse.

2011, however! Where have these eight years gone? Better not to think about it. But since then, Rory has reunited all the other major leagues, the FedEx Cup and, more recently, the fifth unofficial division, the players. Almost all that remains to be done – using wide brushstrokes here, but you get drift – is to claim the big shot that escaped when he was only 21 years old.

If the bookmakers, who have McIlroy a low-priced favorite, are right, this could be his year. The biggest star of Holywood is in top form after his victory at Sawgrbad, a victory that ended a long, barren run. If he succeeds, he will become only the sixth man of the Masters era to finish his career, after Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. It's a helluva club to join. Speed ​​of God, Rory.

He's not going to have everything in his own way, is not it? Many other players will think that it's also their time. Dustin Johnson's game is tailor-made for Augusta. Ditto, the new world number one, Justin Rose, who has outstanding business after losing this game against Sergio a few years ago. Rickie Fowler was a finalist here last year and must surely win this first major tournament at one point. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Jason Day and Tommy Fleetwood have all the tools. Brooks Koepka and Francesco Molinari are horses in the majors. Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed are not yet playing in their games but know what to do to win here and what better place to get back on track?

Then, of course, there is Tiger. The great man returned to winning last season by winning the Tour Championship, his 80th Tour victory, but his first in five years. After a difficult time, the four-time Masters champion is back … and sixth favorite this week behind McIlroy, DJ, Rose, Rahm and Fowler. After being so close at the Open last year, then even closer to the PGA, this could be the fairy tale that will end all fairy tales. Is number 15 on the cards? This could be on the cards. Speed ​​of God, Tiger.

There are others. Many others. Bubba, Bryson, Casey, Oosthuizen, Matsuyama, Finau, Leishman, Kuchar, Sergio, Phil, the Sonics. But we will be there all day and the golf fever is raging. Does not someone call Dr. Golf? He will leave at 14h, Paris time, at 9am in Georgia. It's on!