‘Inside The Ropes’ is the chance for Golf Monthly’s expert team to share its honest thoughts on the biggest subjects in the game. This week, it’s all about The Masters.
The realization of his actions hit McIlroy like a train. He sank down to his haunches and almost melted, the water flowing out of his eyes like a gushing Rae’s Creek.
The reaction was completely understandable, mind. It was a conversation that dominated Masters week every single April for well over a decade – ‘when will McIlroy win The Masters?’
He’d won the other three Majors and was the dominant force in men’s golf for years. Therefore, fans and experts alike felt it was only a matter of time. Yet, with every unsuccessful year passing by, the pressure seemed to rise.
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McIlroy came so close to ending his strife on a few occasions, but a couple of runner-ups and a handful of top-10s were never enough to dampen the noise.
But then he did it. Defeating Justin Rose in a playoff, one of the most popular golfers on the planet allowed his fans to live vicariously through him for a few moments in celebrating the monumental achievement.
His tears were the patrons’ tears. His roars of delight were echoed around the world. The way McIlroy greeted his daughter Poppy was the way plenty who had followed his career wanted to say congratulations. It was a universally popular success.
12 months later, who is next in line to give the fans the most emotional of victories? Who has been through so much that only a Green Jacket would be just reward? Who would a Masters win mean the most to this time around? Below, we’ve shared a handful of names we believe fit the bill.
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WHO WOULD A MASTERS WIN MEAN THE MOST TO?
Jonny Leighfield
BROOKS KOEPKA
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When I ran through the list of names entered into The Masters field this year, I came up with eight to 10 genuine contenders who fit this question.
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