Golf is surging right now with a new tour, the LIV Golf, becoming a mainstay in the men’s golfing community. Men’s professional golf is seeing a lot of changes and developments, with Rory McIlroy, the world number two, emerging as the most influential voice in the sport.
Heading into the 2021 Masters Tournament, McIlroy is determined to achieve the career Grand Slam by becoming a fifth-time major winner. Since his last major win at the US PGA Championship in August 2014, much of the time has been focused on meetings with the PGA Tour, rather than honing his skills with new clubs and putters. McIlroy’s recent third-placed finish in the WGC Match Play helped him introduce a marginally shorter shaft and a traditional-shaped putter that brought him success in earlier tournaments.
McIlroy also conducted two recces to Augusta, managing to need only 19 putts on the Masters’famous greens during one of his practice rounds. He will certainly have to perform at the top of his game in order to have a chance at claiming the first major title in seven years since his last one, especially with defending champion Scottie Scheffler and several past winners such as Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson among the competitors.
Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are also among the contenders, coming with high hopes of adding a Masters title to their victories in other major tournaments. Smith’s victory in February’s Genesis Invitational provides evidence of his prowess, and Rahm’s fifth-place finish in 2020 behind McIlroy was enough to inspire him to become the fourth Spaniard to host a Champions Dinner at Augusta.
LIV Golf’s bold entrances could change the landscape of men’s golf, with Masters offering a comprehensive glimpse into the direction that the modern game is taking. With potential weather conditions bringing a list of strong contenders to the field faster, it is sure to be a thrilling tournament, with cheers resounding across the fairways come Masters Sunday.
