Gary Player mentioned Rory McIlroy’s recent meeting with Jack Nicklaus in passing at his 2025 Masters news conference Thursday morning, and only after first pointing out how impressive it is to him that McIlroy can deadlift 400 pounds.
“He went to Jack for advice on how to play this golf course,” Player told reporters at Augusta National Golf Club. “Nobody knows better than Jack.”
Nicklaus, the winner of a record 18 majors and six green jackets at The Masters, was seated just a few feet away from Player, with Tom Watson in between them on the dais. The three men who serve as honorary starters at golf’s first major were together again at the first tee to officially begin the 2025 Masters, and McIlroy was on their mind when they spoke to reporters about the state of the game before McIlroy began his first round.
Masters 2025: What Jack Nicklaus told Rory McIlroy last week
Nicklaus, in light of Player’s revelation, offered the most interesting insight into McIlroy’s approach heading into this week’s tournament.
“I sat down with Rory last week and we had lunch and we were talking,” Nicklaus began, “and I said, ‘Rory, I know you prepared for Augusta. Tell me how you’re going to play the golf course.’ And we went through it shot-for-shot. He got done with the round, I didn’t open my mouth, and I said, ‘I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.’ ”
McIlroy has never won The Masters and he hasn’t won a major since 2014. He had a career-best second-place finish at Augusta National in 2022, but he notably blew a four-shot final round lead at the 2011 Masters. McIlroy’s drought is a topic of conversation he can’t avoid at this point given his place in the game, and that includes with Nicklaus.
“The discipline is what Rory has lacked, in my opinion,” said Nicklaus. “He’s got all the shots. He’s got all the game. He’s certainly as talented as anybody in the game. But if you go back in his history the last few years, he gets to a place a lot of times an eight or a seven pops up, and that keeps him from getting to where he needs to go. I’m a big fan of Rory’s and I like Rory a lot.”
Masters 2025 predictions: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson picks
Nicklaus, Player and Watson all said they want McIlroy to win his first green jacket and become the sixth person to complete golf’s grand slam. They each predicted McIlroy to win this year, but for different reasons.
“I think Rory McIlory will win The Masters and I hope he does because it would give golf a great boost to have another winner of the grand slam,” Player said. “… He’s had opportunities to win majors and let them slip. I think his time is right. I think it’s just the right time frame for him to win now and there’s no course that suits a man better than it does for Rory.”
“I just have a gut feeling Rory’s the guy that’s going to win this week,” added Watson.
“Ditto,” said Nicklaus.
How to watch 2025 Masters: TV, streaming for golf’s first major
Live coverage of this year’s Masters tournament will be split by ESPN and CBS, with the first and second rounds broadcast on ESPN and the final two rounds on CBS.
Thursday, April 10 – Friday, April 11
TV: ESPN
Time: 3:30-7 p.m. ET
Streaming coverage: ESPN+, Masters.com, the Masters YouTube page and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users
Saturday, Apil 12 – Sunday, April 13
TV: CBS, Paramount+
Time: 12-7 p.m. ET (12-2 p.m. streaming on Paramount+, 2-7 p.m. on both CBS and Paramount+ )
Streaming coverage: Paramount+, Masters.com, the Masters YouTube page and Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users
Watch the 2025 Masters with Fubo