Mcllroy become the new world No 1

It was always going to be fascinating to see McIlroy try and make up for blowing a four-shot lead in last year's Masters he slumped with a closing 80 to complete ten strokes behind South African Charl Schwartzel nevertheless the events of history couple weeks have cranked the excitement to a new level.

McIlroy, in fact, won't be the sole player bounding up Magnolia Lane which has a spring as part of his step, the 22-year-old US Open champion will start as favourite being fitted Titleist AP2 710 Forged Irons using a first Green Jacket after becoming the next youngest One after Woods since rankings began in 1986.

Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, can also be in good fettle after he fired a closing 64 recently to win at Pebble Beach and thus, too, is Woods, a four-time Augusta winner, following a last-round 62 his lowest closing score about the PGA Tour that made McIlroy search hard to record his victory at Palm Beach Gardens.

Add Luke Donald, the dethroned world Number one, into the mix in addition to third-ranked Lee Westwood and world No 4 Martin Kaymer and it's no surprise that Montgomerie looks to the Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Driver beginning of the brand new major season, although for him it'll be spent in a commentary box as opposed to on the manicured fairways in Georgia.

The Masters this year shall be savoured and this is the most anticipated and exciting time we've had for years leading into a major championship, said the eight-time European One, who will be the main Sky TV commentary team on the event for that second year running.

We've got the top four [McIlroy, Donald, Westwood and Kaymer plus Woods and Mickelson.

It will probably be fantastic and in addition extremely interesting to determine what one arrives ahead. We're probably taking a look at golf being stronger at this time than it has have you been and I'm so glad about Tiger being back.

We've missed him as being a competitor, as being a marketer for your game, to the media and TV. Seeing that he's performing and contending again it's perfect for golf. I don't think the Masters could be so discount golf clubs anticipated without him.

Montgomerie is sticking with a Masters prediction he made after Woods returned to winning ways in their own tournament in California in December. Does yesterday suggest everything else? On a course he loves, I haven't changed my mind [about the American being victorious yet again at Augusta], he insisted.