the 79th masters gets underway on thursday and the focus will be on rory mcilroy as the northern irishman bids to become only the sixth man in history to claim the career grand slam .
but tiger woods , returning to competitive action for the first time since february and battling a succession of injuries and the chipping yips , will once again come under the microscope as he bids for a fifth green jacket and 15th major .
european stalwarts justin rose , ian poulter , lee westwood and henrik stenson will fancy their chances .