Masters greatness is there for Rory to grasp

It was almost a year ago that Adam Scott, fresh from his dramatic Masters victory, responded to a congratulatory text message from his friend Justin Rose.

“This is your time, this is our time, to win these tournaments,” Scott’s text to the Englishman read. Rose, like Scott, 33 at the time, took the words to heart and promptly won the next Major available, at the US Open at Merion.

Rory McIlroy may be a little younger than those particular rivals, both of whom are live contenders at Augusta National this weekend, but the Irishman will be thinking that Scott’s statement could equally apply to him where the Masters is concerned.