Rory McIlroy has a strong chance to join an exclusive club of Masters champions who have successfully defended their title, according to golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.
Only three players in the tournament's storied history have managed to win the coveted green jacket in back-to-back years.
Nicklaus, who was an honorary starter at Augusta National on Thursday, expressed his belief in McIlroy's prospects.
"Rory’s got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat," he stated.
McIlroy finally broke his Augusta hoodoo last April, overcoming Justin Rose in a play-off to complete his career Grand Slam in his 17th Masters appearance. This victory has seemingly altered his mindset heading into this year's tournament.
The illustrious company of back-to-back winners includes Nicklaus himself, who achieved the feat in 1965 and 1966. He was later joined by Nick Faldo (1989–90) and Tiger Woods (2001–02), but no one has managed to repeat since.
Nicklaus, a record six-time Masters champion, highlighted the inherent difficulties of winning consecutively. He recalled his own experience, where he followed a record-breaking 17-under 271 in 1965 with an even-par 288 the following year, still winning in a play-off despite vastly different conditions.
"You had totally different conditions, and that’s what you put up with," Nicklaus explained.
"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."
The 36-year-old McIlroy, who is set to tee off his title defence on Thursday at 10:31am (ET), confirmed he feels a newfound sense of calm.
"Yeah, it’s completely different," McIlroy said. "I feel so much more relaxed. I know that I’m going to be coming back here for a lot of years, going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here.
“It doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, but yeah, just more relaxed about it all."
