World number 1 Rory McIlroy will bid to make golfing history this week in attempting to become only the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam this week. The 11/2 favourite for the green jacket would also become the first Irish player to win the Masters. It will be no easy task in what is turning out to be one of the most eagerly anticipated Masters tournaments in recent history with the return of Tiger Woods to golf and the early-season form of a new generation of golfers headed by 21-year-old world number four, Jordan Spieth.

McIlroy comes into the Masters in a strong position. He is the reigning Open and PGA champion and topped both the PGA Tour and European Tour money lists last year. He resumed 2015 in fine form in Dubai, winning the Dubai Desert Classic and finishing second in the Abu Dhabi Championship. However, his form in the US this season has been patchy and his record at the Masters is poorer than his record other major championships. In each of the past five tournaments, he has had a round in the high 70s or above. Another round like that will eliminate any chances of completing the ‘slam’.

The most notable of these rounds was his final round 80 in 2011. This Sunday meltdown saw him tumble down the leaderboard from a four-shot lead. While he played as well as anyone has done tee-to-green for the first three days of the Masters as a 21-year-old in 2011, it is an anomaly in his Masters career thus far and even then, he failed to master the tricky greens of Augusta National. McIlroy will have to improve both his putting and his approach shots on the course, which in the following years failed to match the brilliance of his breakout year.

Augusta’s putting surfaces are notoriously firm and have deceived many golfers over the years both on the green and in the approach. It explains why course experience is worth so much in this particular major. This is McIlroy’s seventh Masters so he should be getting a feel for the greens by now. Perhaps the weather could help him to unlock the key to Augusta this year. He has dominated top-class fields in wetter conditions before and if the thunderstorms expected for Friday and Saturday sufficiently dampen the course then an extra edge taken off Augusta’s greens may be enough for him to fulfil his dreams. Whatever happens to Rory this week, patience is important. At 25-years-old, there will be many chances of green jackets and champion dinners in the future.