Tom Watson has backed Rory McIlroy to complete the career grand slam which eluded him as the 66-year-old prepares to make his final appearance in the Masters.
Watson won a total of nine major championships during his illustrious career, including the Masters twice and five Open titles, but never won the US PGA Championship in 33 attempts.
McIlroy's first attempt to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in winning all four major titles ended in disappointment with a fourth-place finish at Augusta National last year.
But former Ryder Cup captain Watson believes McIlroy is capable of "emasculating" any golf course and has the ideal game to succeed in the predicted tougher conditions this week.
"He's the guy. He's my pick this week," Watson said. "He's just got a tremendous talent. He hits the ball high. I think it's always been an advantage to hit the ball high on this golf course.
"And I can tell you the golf course is different this year than it was last year. The greens are faster yesterday and today than they were last year. They sped them up. They seem just a little bit harder.
"Today (Tuesday) they had a real sheen to them. Number five was like a mirror. They are out there syringing the greens, so I think you're seeing a little bit different set-up this year. I think it's going to be a tougher set-up. And the people that hit the ball high, they have an advantage.
"Rory, he can emasculate a golf course, he flat (out) can. He hits the ball high and so far."
McIlroy has said himself that he fully expects to win at Augusta at some point in his career and sees no reason why it shouldn't be this week.
"I feel like I'm a good enough player," the world number three said. "I feel like I've got everything I need to become a Masters champion.
McIlroy admits he felt "exposed" by the hype surrounding his grand slam bid 12 months ago, when the return of 14-time major winner Tiger Woods was the main alternative focus.
Being the only member of the world's top five without a win this season has contributed to a somewhat more subdued build-up, along with a deliberate change in preparation in order to get off to a fast start.
"I feel like last year I didn't do much wrong really," added McIlroy, who did not visit Augusta before this week and opted for competitive matches in practice, the first of which he ended with a hole-in-one on the 16th on Monday against Chris Wood.
"I played well. I finished 12 under par for the tournament. But I was three over after 27 holes and that's not going to get it done.
"I think part of that was having so much expectation and thinking of the grand slam and thinking of the Masters, where I needed to just take a step back and relax and go out and try and play my own game."
Watson meanwhile has decided to call time on his competitive career at the Masters, although he will continue to play in the par-three contest and on the Champions Tour.
"I made the decision last year to announce at the Open Championship that this was going to be my last Masters," added Watson, who has not made the cut at Augusta since 2010.
"In my toolbox I have one of those tape measures and that tape measure used to extend out to 265 yards carry off the tee. And now it doesn't do that any more. It's 250 yards off the tee."
You can follow updates from Greg Allen on the course on RTÉ Radio and there'll be a live blog on all four rounds of the Masters on RTÉ.ie.
