The Masters: How under-the-radar Rory McIlroy can finally end his Augusta duck

Augusta National has become a millstone around the neck of Rory McIlroy ever since he squandered a four-shot lead on the final day in 2011.

Since then, he has become the Green Jacket nearly man, threatening to extend his wardrobe on the final day only to fall just short.

In his last 10 editions at Augusta, he boasts seven top-10 finishes and produced a stunning final-day surge to finish runner-up to Scottie Scheffler in 2022. But sandwiched either side of that are two missed cuts, last year's perhaps the more notable, McIlroy having begun the tournament as the standout favourite.

Looking at the numbers, it is Scheffler rather than McIlroy — and intriguingly they are paired together today — who is this week's man to beat.

In between winning in Dubai in January and finishing third in Texas last week, McIlroy's results of 66th, 24th, 21st, 21st and 19th are hardly indicators of a Masters champion-in-waiting.

And yet he has a growing belief an altered approach to the opening Major of the year could pay dividends. He is more golf-fit, having played more tournaments than he would usually at this time of the year. Plus, he is under the radar — well, as much as one of the greatest to play the game can be.

Added to that, prior to Texas, he has sought out the expertise of swing coach Butch Harmon, his offerings, according to the player, making him half-coach, half-psychologist.

While McIlroy's iron play has not been at his best, it is in the head where his biggest struggles have been at the Masters and, with each passing year and opportunity gone begging, the burden has only worsened of trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods to complete the grand slam of Majors and only the seventh in history to do so.

Woods again reiterated this week it was just a matter of time before his close friend finally got his hands on a Green Jacket, while Harmon's advice was effectively to enjoy himself and be Rory Mcllroy.

In Paul McGinley's eyes, there are two ways in which his fellow Irishman wins the Masters.

"If he's going to win it, he'll win it somewhat under the radar, whether coming in with not much expectation, like this year, where his form's not good, or rising up and winning it coming from three, four, five shots back in the final round," said McGinley. "Is he capable of doing that? Absolutely.