Sawt Falasteen - McIlroy ready for early start as 90th Masters begins

Firm and fast conditions are expected for the field of 91 at Augusta National, where McIlroy will try to become only the fourth back-to-back green jacket winner after Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Golf's elder icons drew applause from a crowd gathered near the first tee in the early morning light for the honorary starters.

Nicklaus, 86, won six of his record 18 major titles at the Masters while 90-year-old South African Player captured three of his nine majors at Augusta National and Watson, 76, took two Masters titles and five British Opens among his eight major wins.

Second-ranked McIlroy, a five-time major winner from Northern Ireland, tees off in the first round at 10:31 a.m. (1431 GMT) alongside Americans Cameron Young, the world number three who won last month's Players Championship, and Mason Howell, last year's US Amateur winner.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, a four-time major champion, launches his quest for a third Masters crown in five seasons at 1:44 p.m. in the penultimate group alongside fellow American Gary Woodland and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre.

Conditions are expected to produce a hard surface with lightning-fast greens where approach shots will struggle to stay in position.

Other expected challengers for the title include LIV Golf stars Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, both two-time major champions.

American Xander Schauffele and England's Matt Fitzpatrick are among other past major winners expected to contend.

A host of golfers seeking their first major victory include Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and England's Tommy Fleetwood.

M.Qasim--SF-PST