Bubba Watson believes that all the pressure at this year's Masters will be on the shoulders of Rory McIlroy, even though it is Watson that goes into the tournament as the reigning champion.
The 36-year-old left-hander has won two green jackets in the last three years, and victory this year would see Watson equal Jack Nicklaus's record in winning three Masters titles in four years.
However, the American believes that it is world number one McIlroy who is under the most pressure to perform as he aims to complete a career grand slam.
"There's no pressure on me – I've got two jackets already. And if you were just looking at me and McIlroy [who had the most pressure on them], I would say McIlroy. If it were the other way around me, then all the pressure would be on me," Watson told reporters.
"I would actually call it an accomplishment and a huge honour just to have the chance at what, just 25 years of age, to complete the slam. At 25, I was barely able to keep my Tour card. The way he should look at it is that he's got his whole life to try to win The Masters. Yet obviously he's going to put pressure on himself to do it this year.
"I think he would have more pressure than me, because of all the talent he has and the records he could beat when he gets older."
Watson, the current world number two, and McIlroy are both set to finalise their preparations for The Masters when they play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational which begins on Thursday.
Joe Sharratt
