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'Quiet confidence' Rory McIlroy can bring Masters green jacket home

'If Rory plays like we all know he can he should win' - Holywood Golf Club captains Ruth Watt and Trevor Heaven
'If Rory plays like we all know he can he should win' - Holywood Golf Club captains Ruth Watt and Trevor Heaven

There's a quiet confidence in Rory McIlroy's home town of Holywood in Co Down that he will make history and bring the famous Masters green jacket home.

The 35-year-old is aiming to become just the seventh golfer in history to win the grand slam of major tournaments.

He has already won four majors - the US Open, The Open and two US PGA Championships - but has fallen short at Augusta National several times.

The most heartbreaking was in 2011 when aged 21 he went into the last day with a four-shot lead, but suffered an infamous collapse in form.

His last major victory was in 2014.



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Tables in the restaurant and bar at Holywood Golf Club, where Rory is the most famous member, are fully booked for tonight as friends and fans prepare to roar him on.

As fate would have had it, the colours of the men's and ladies' captains at the club are green.

"I got my jacket two weeks ago and said at the time I hoped Rory would get his this weekend," says men's captain Trevor Heaven.

"We've been here before, but there's a quiet confidence that he'll do it."

Ladies' captain Ruth Watt shares the confidence, but is nervous.

"We've been here before, we've been cheering on to win another major for 11 years now," she says.

"So we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves and there's no doubt Bryson DeChambeau will do his best to spoil the party for us, but if Rory plays like we all know he can he should win."

Members of the club where a young Rory honed his formidable talent are regularly in touch to send him best wishes.

So what's the message ahead of tonight's final round?

"Stay calm, stay focused, and Rory bring it home," says Trevor.

"Likewise," says Ruth. "Just play the way you have done the first three days."

A short distance away in Holywood town centre, there was also a sense of anticipation.

"It's his destiny, I think," said one local man who grew up with the golfer's father.

Time will tell.