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Jack Nicklaus addressed the media ahead of The Masters on Thursday and discussed Rory McIlroy’s chances of winning a second green jacket this year.
Only three men have defended The Masters – Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
And now, McIlroy has the chance to become the fourth man to defend at Augusta National this year.
McIlroy won The Masters in 2025 in thrilling style, defeating Justin Rose on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
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Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR
Nicklaus also won a playoff at Augusta National after he got the better of Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer in 1966.
Coincidentally, that was the year he defended his Masters crown.
McIlroy will face tough conditions at The Masters this year, as he attempts to win the tournament for the second time in a row.
Jack Nicklaus says if Rory McIlroy will defend The Masters this year
Nicklaus addressed the media at Augusta National on Thursday morning after he hit the ceremonial opening tee shot.
He responded when asked by reporters whether he believes McIlroy will defend his Masters title this year.
“Well, the key obviously is to win two years in a row. That’s the first thing. I think Rory is the only one that’s got a chance to do that this year,“ Nicklaus joked.
“What is the key to doing it? I played — when I was here in ’65, I broke a tournament record and shot 271. I don’t think — when we came back the next year, I remember Gary going to Mr. Roberts and saying, Mr. Roberts, the fairways are much longer this year. He said, ‘I hit nothing but fliers, and the greens are like rocks’.
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“And Mr. Roberts said, Well, the greens are cut exactly the same as they were. Well, they weren’t, but that’s what he said. I don’t know.
“Anyway, I shot 288 that year, and I won in a playoff. You had totally different conditions, and that’s what you put up with. If you’re going to win two years in a row, you’ll find conditions you like and maybe you don’t find conditions you like, but you’ve got to adjust to both of those. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that.
“I think Rory is talented enough to be able to play it. Rory’s got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat.“
Arguments for and against Rory McIlroy defending The Masters
McIlroy must feel like a huge weight has been lifted from his shoulders this week.
On the other hand, he will have lost the absolute desperation and burning desire he once had to win The Masters.
McIlroy clearly has the game required to win around Augusta National once again this year.
However, he hasn’t played competitively for four weeks now.
There is a strong chance that he will be slightly rusty when he starts his first round on Thursday morning.
However, if he manages to hang in there heading into the weekend, there probably won’t be many players better placed to win The Masters this week than Rory McIlroy.
Much will depend on whether his putter cooperates this year. He is already part of the exclusive Grand Slam club, and if he has success on the greens this week, he may well join the even more exclusive club of players who have successfully defended The Masters.
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