A year ago, after Rory McIlroy navigated an unsteady if compelling route to winning the Masters, he sat in the post victory press-conference wearing the green jacket and began by theatrically exclaiming "I'd like to ask a question myself; what are we all going to talk about next year?"
When the ensuing laughter died down, it became clear that McIlroy had asked what was probably the most telling question posed that Sunday evening.
Not only had he summitted his highest peak, in doing so he had removed an agenda and a burden – the completion of the career grand slam - that had been arguably the most consistent narrative during Masters week for the previous decade.
On his return here over the weekend, with the same green jacket draped over his shoulders, it was clear that his level of unbridled contentment at the preview press conference was undiminished which leads to another question about whether that is the best frame of mind to be in for his defence of the title.
Back-to-back Masters victories has only been done three times before and when you look at the names who have successfully achieved that – Nicklaus, Faldo and Woods - it’s clear that they all have one thing in common.
They are all among the greatest minds and closers in the history of the game.
As much as Rory has already ascended into the pantheon of greats in golf as a winner of the Career Grand Slam, to join that elite club of back-to-back Masters winners would be another defining achievement.
So what are the chances? Can McIlroy, who tees off at 3.31pm Irish time, channel his new-found 'lightness of being’ into what some believe could be a freeing-up of his talent which in turn might conceivably lead to more major championship successes?
Or, does he need the ‘edge’ that has both worked for and against him in a career laden with soaring triumphs but also crushing failures?
It’s a state of mind he’s not ignoring and he’s highly aware that his obvious contentment should not dilute the level of intensity that he will undoubtedly require from the very first shot of his Masters defence.
"I've always needed something to strive towards and I think everyone saw that for the first couple of months after I won the Masters last year. I struggled to find my feet again and get that motivation but 12 months on, I’m excited that I get another opportunity to win another green jacket," McIlroy says.
"It’s amazing to feel relaxed and not have that angst heading into the Masters every year, but there’s a difference between being relaxed and being complacent."
McIlroy’s early season form has made him something of an unknown quantity this week. Whereas last year, he arrived in Augusta on the back of significant early season victories at Pebble Beach and in the Players Championship, 2026 has been winless for him so far.
His best result - a second place finish at the Genesis Invitational in February - showed signs that the physical elements of his game look in pretty good shape.
But when it came to the task of winning on Sunday in Los Angeles, he was largely outplayed by the relatively unheralded Jacob Bridgeman.
Then, in his very next start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he withdrew after two rounds with a back injury which also left him short of full-throttle in his defence of the Players at Sawgrass where he finished in an undistinguished tie for 46th position.
A three-week layoff ensued as he had further treatment for the injury which is now completely clear.
That hiatus period could work both ways as, on the one hand, it leaves him short of competitive rounds in 2026 while conversely also offering him a chance for an early season reboot having had his coach Michael Bannon oversee his practice over a ten-day period at home in Florida before McIlroy’s departure for Augusta on Saturday last.
It hasn’t been a straightforward preparation either for the World No 1 Scottie Scheffler who comes into the Masters having not finished in the top 10 in his last three starts – a run of untypical inconsistency which can be attributed to his erratic iron play - normally his super-power.
Like McIlroy, he too has not played a PGA Tour event since the Players Championship as his wife Meredith recently gave birth to their second child Remy. Scheffler used that break in the season to also address his own swing issues with his lifelong coach Randy Smith.
He opened last Tuesday’s press conference in Augusta with a possibly ominous succinct statement: "Game feels in a good spot. I got some rest the last few weeks at home so I feel ready to go."
Given the uncertainty surrounding the form-line of the top two players in the world, there has been a strong sense that this looks like one of the more ‘open’ Masters of recent years.
'This Masters looks far more open than just those four stars of the game'
The early season results of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, who have been the dominant players in LIV golf in 2026, mark them down as strong contenders to the point that Las Vegas bookmakers place them between Scheffler and McIlroy in the betting.
Rahm has been in the top five in all of the LIV events this year, winning the title in Hong Kong while DeChambeau has won back-to-back crowns in Singapore and South Africa on his last two starts.
It’s the kind of form which is impossible to ignore, especially now that LIV events are played over 72 holes.
But this Masters looks far more open than just those four stars of the game.
There is a strong case to be made for Ludvig Aberg who has been seventh and second in his last two Masters starts and has finished in the top five in his last three tournament appearances, while Xander Schauffele is approaching his dual major winning form of 2024 having recovered fully from the lingering effects of a rib injury which severely affected his campaign last year.
For Shane Lowry, his growing comfort around Augusta National is revealed in his tally of six cuts made in his last six appearances – a run which included a third-place finish in 2022 while he was in the top five on the leaderboard deep into the third round last April.
His season has been unusual in that two strong opportunities for victories slipped away with agonising late errors in Dubai and Florida – performances that nonetheless showcased, for the most part, some of the sublime form he’s capable of producing on any given week.
The Offaly man tees off at 2.43 pm Irish time.
For Tom McKibbin, who makes his Masters debut, he accepts that making the cut is his primary ambition.
The LIV Series team-mate of Rahm is quietly, steadily progressing in his career and if he should make it to this weekend’s action at Augusta National, it would complete the full set of cuts made in all of the major championships.
He starts his round at 4.15pm Irish time.
Follow Live Updates of the 2026 Masters on rte.ie/sport from the opening tee on Thursday 9 April.
