Rory McIlroy don return to Augusta National for The Masters 2026 as de reigning champion, and de man dey yarn say e feel like big weight don comot from im shoulders. After e win de tournament last year to complete im career Grand Slam, McIlroy dey talk say im life don change total. “To dey do dis press conference inside Green Jacket, e dey sweet well well,” McIlroy yarn for media. “De past twelve months don be amazing. I don try to embrace every part of am.”
De Northern Irish golfer dey explain say de feeling dis year no be like before. “For de past seventeen years,” im talk, “I no fit wait for tournament to start. But dis year, I no even care if tournament never start!” McIlroy dey laugh as e yarn dis one, but e quick add say e still dey motivated to play well and try win again. “E no mean say I no get motivation,” im talk. “But I just dey more relaxed about everything.”
One big difference wey McIlroy notice na how pipo dey talk to am now. “Instead of dem dey say ‘come on Rory, you know you fit do am’, dem dey talk about ‘back to back’. Na positive connotation dis time. Before na like ‘Rory, we don dey wait, when you go do am?'” McIlroy yarn say e dey happy say dat pressure don comot. “E sweet to waka around de property or dey on golf course without dat tin dey hang for my head. Na like big weight don comot.”
For Champions Dinner wey go hold tonight, McIlroy go address legends of de game for first time as champion. “I don think about am plenty,” im confess. “Honestly, I don think about dat speech pass de food wey go dey.” Im mention say Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson no go dey present dis year, but im hope say dem go return for future. “Na shame,” McIlroy talk, “but I sure say dem go dey with us for future.”
When dem ask am which major give am best chance to add to im five titles, McIlroy no waste time. “Na dis one,” im reply. “De other major venues we no dey go same place every year. When you get experience like wey I get around here, good and bad, dat one fit stand you well.” McIlroy, wey dey make im 18th start at Augusta, talk say e feel like e get another ten good shots to win de tournament again.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, wey be favorite to win Masters for third time, also yarn for media. Scheffler wey just welcome im second pikin on March 27, talk say im game dey good condition. “My game dey feel like e dey good spot,” im talk. “And I don rest well for last few weeks, so I ready for dis week.” About de pressure of challenging for major titles, Scheffler yarn say: “When you look golf, you look being in de arena, being in de moment and having chances to win.”
Bryson DeChambeau, wey finish tied fifth last year after being in final grouping with McIlroy, address de rivalry between dem. “E go sweet if we fit continue get rivalry,” DeChambeau talk. “Do I respect am as person? One hundred percent. Do I want beat am every time I see am? Absolutely. No question.” DeChambeau talk say im learn plenty from last year experience. “Na great learning lesson,” im yarn. “Rory complete career Grand Slam and, like I talk last year, e earn am. Na really cool tin to see for person eye.”
Gary Woodland, wey just win Houston Open last week after battling health challenges, dey excited to return to Masters. “I dey over excited to dey back here,” Woodland talk. Im share say wen doctors diagnose am with brain tumor three years ago, im number one thought na say im no go let de tin win. “Golf don give me purpose, for sure,” im yarn. “When I dey not on course, I dey inside battle, and when I dey on course, I dey inside battle.”
For cricket news, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton dey tip Alice Capsey and Davina Perrin to shine for 2026 summer. Hussain talk say Capsey, wey don play 34 ODI and 45 T20I matches for England, don begin realize how much talent wey e get. “E don happen to all young cricketers, men and women,” Hussain explain. “Dem burst onto scene and plenty tin dey throw at dem. E take small time to cope with dat, and I think she dey cope – and she na very talented cricketer.”
Atherton believe say 19-year-old Davina Perrin fit make dis summer her own. After her masterful 42-ball century for Northern Superchargers for last year Hundred, Atherton talk say Perrin dey poised for standout season. “On back of dat innings and century for The Hundred,” Atherton yarn, “I don blow away total by style and manner of her play for The Oval dat day.”
England women face significant summer with T20 World Cup unfolding on home soil from June 12 to July 5. Atherton talk say for hosts, na combination of advantage and pressure. “Dey get advantage in terms of knowledge of conditions, being at home, getting all support – but with dat come added pressure,” im explain. Hussain add say any side apart from Australia no dey enter tournament as firm favorites for past ten years. “E always be Australia,” im talk, “albeit dem just get 50-over World Cup for India and Sri Lanka wey dem lose.”
Butch Harmon, former swing coach to Tiger Woods, address whether Woods go ever play at Augusta National again. “If you ask me dat question ten or fifteen years ago,” Harmon yarn, “I for talk absolutely not. E no dey show up unless e think e fit win but I think dat ship don sail.” Woods dey work towards another competitive comeback before car crash on March 27 wey lead to DUI charges. Harmon talk say: “Na sad. Na sad wetin e don put himself through.”
As Masters build-up continue, all eyes dey on McIlroy wey get chance to become first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back editions at Augusta National. De tournament go begin live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday, April 9. McIlroy, wey joke say “what we all go talk about next year?” after climbing im “golfing Everest
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