Jeff O'Neill

Yeah, there's two schools of thought there.

Now, this is the 90th Masters, and there have only been three guys who have ever won back-to-back.

Jack in 66, Faldo in 90, and Tiger in 02.

So, obviously, the odds are stacked against you.

However, I think Rory comes in here with a lot of obligations.

You know, the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Saturday, he was handing out a couple of trophies on Sunday with a drive chip and putt.

Then he went and played the golf course with his dad.

That's not normally how you would prepare for the Masters.

But...

To me, the most important thing is that when he gets announced tomorrow, that'll be the most unencumbered and freewheeling he'll ever feel in his life at Augusta National.

He got it done.

It's house money now.

And to me...

That freedom is going to allow him to play well.

I was telling someone the other day, I wouldn't be surprised if he won by six or missed the cut by six.

I mean, who knows what's going to happen because the preparation with the Champions Dinner last night and the immediate obligations and all the things you have to do as the defending champion at the Masters.

But to me, once he tees it up, I think he's going to just freewheel it and we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

But to me...

I think Rory McIlroy, there's no reason whatsoever that the injury to the back doesn't bother me at all.

He's healthy.