Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishRory McIlroy explains why Augusta is his forever courseRory McIlroy opens up on why Augusta is his forever course, from childhood memories to pure beauty.The MastersWith the final day of practice rounds at the Augusta National Golf Club pending, the players are polishing their games and steeling their nerves for the season’s first major championship with the first round of the Masters Tournament beginning on Thursday.MAJOR INSIDER: Get Golfweek’s best stories, latest updates from Augusta National straight to your inboxWhere can fans find the edge in handicapping the players who have a chance to wear the green jacket on Sunday evening?It’s mostly about what happens after the tee shot.There’s no doubt the Masters favors the bombers off the tee, especially with the course lengthened to 7,555 yards. But that’s only the start. Historically, players who hit the most greens have the best chance. According to golf data analyst Ron Klos, the last 13 Masters champions had gained at least 18 total strokes tee-to-green in their four starts prior to the Masters. Last year’s winner, Scottie Scheffler, leads 14 players who enter this year’s tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club with at least 18 strokes game tee-to-green, with 31.8. He is followed by Corey Conners (30.7), Collin Morikawa (29.4), Shane Lowry (28.8), J.J. Spaun (25.4), Rory McIlroy (24.8) and Sepp Straka (24.6). So even though Scheffler has yet to win this season, he’s been pounding the flags and it might seem he’s only waiting for the putter to heat up. Who are the Masters betting favorites? BetMGM agrees that Scheffler’s experience in winning two of the last three Masters and a solid start to the season puts him as the current favorite at +450. McIlroy is +650 and then it’s a long way to find the next two favorites, Morikawa and 2023 champion Jon Rahm at +1400. They are followed by Bryson DeChambeau (+1600), Ludvig Aberg (+2000) and Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele (both at +2200). What are the Masters odds on other players? Aside from Rahm and DeChambeau, the next best bet among members of the LIV Golf League, according to BetMGM, is Joaquin Niemann at +3000. Brooks Koepka is +3300 and Sergio Garcia +6600. Scheffler and Rahm are the only past champions with decent odds. The next best past Masters winners are Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spieth at +3300. The last two winners on the PGA Tour have long odds, Min Woo Lee (+4500) and Brian Harman (+12500). Among the twins, who ya got? Nicolai Hojgaard is +17500 and Rasmus Hojgaard is +20000. The amateur with the best odds is U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester at +75000. Masters predictions Corey Conners: The Canadian has been playing well this season, making eight of nine cuts. He’s finished 24th or higher in his last four starts, with three top 10s. He had a nice three-year run in the Masters from 2020-2022 with three top 10 finishes but has missed the cut and tied for 38th in his last two starts. He’s sneaky-long and has been slowly figuring out how to compete in majors. He made the cut in all four events last year for the first time in his career with a tie for ninth at the U.S. Open. Justin Thomas: Even though he missed his last two cuts at the Masters, Thomas had a run of six top 22 or better finishes at Augusta before that, with two in the top 10. Thomas has made his last 15 cuts, with six top 10 finishes and three runners-up, including his last start at the Valspar Championship. The week before, he tied The Players scoring record with a 62 in the second round. The 15-time Tour winner, including two majors, hasn’t forgotten how to win. Rory McIlroy: All signs point to Rory, especially when he won The Players with a stellar performance in the three-hole playoff. But that’s been the problem in the past. There’s never going to be a time when he’s under the radar at Augusta National, so it remains on him to shoulder the burden and deliver to complete the career grand slam.
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