A great chance for McIlroy to make a big statement

The show must go on at The Masters, despite the absence of its star attraction.

The non-participation of Tiger Woods is a big blow, but The Masters will still be successful and should throw up a great winner and a dramatic final Sunday.

However, there will be something lacking without Woods around. He is pure box-office, whether he’s playing well or badly.

Think of his incredible chip-in at the 16th in 2005 or the brouhaha that surrounded his wrong drop last year after his ball hit the flag.

And he loves this tournament. If ever there was a course that suited him down to the ground, it’s Augusta National. If there is any way Tiger could have played this week, he would have done. The Masters is the event he would have been most loath to miss. If he could have postponed his back surgery any later he would have, so that shows the extent of the problem.

But in Tiger’s absence, around 20 other players will fancy their chances of collecting the Green Jacket. We’ve had a lot of first time winners on the PGA Tour this year, but I’m expecting the more established players to come to the fore.

One of those is Rory McIlroy and this is a great chance for him to make a big statement. Rory’s form has been good in 2014 and he’s finally got to grips with his new clubs, although he has let a couple of victories slip away.

I’m pleased Rory is playing in Houston, as that is the ideal chance to get rid of any rust and fine tune for next week.

He already has two Majors to his name, so he knows what it takes and doesn’t carry the burden of never having won one.

Hopefully, he’s wiser for what happened to him three years ago as well. He was fantastic for three days, showing that the course suits his game, but it all unravelled on that final afternoon when he shot 80.

But often you have to lose at Augusta to learn how to win. That happened to Phil Mickelson and he’s since won it three times.

We’ve not had a European winner for 15 years but I’m expecting a strong showing from our star names.

If it had been held last December, Henrik Stenson would have been the favourite but there are signs he’s returning to form after a brief lull.

Justin Rose’s lack of golf is a worry but if he can get into contention, he’s proved that he can hole big putts under pressure.

And I can’t wait to see my nephew Stephen playing in his first Masters.

Events have been going on since early January, but April in Georgia remains for me the start of the season.