Preview: Masters dreams can become reality for in-form Rory McIlroy as top trio set for shoot-out

It's a mantra that regularly gets trotted out at this time of the golf season that 'this will be a Masters like no other’.

Eight major-less months which precede the tournament is arguably the most pressing reason to fill the air with anticipation in the second week of April but this year there’s a whole lot more which could colour and define this as being one of the most eventful Masters in history.

The presence of six former champions in the field of 88 players who have broken away to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Tour has been a potential flashpoint but it has not so far, to the relief of the Augusta National Members, ignited in any apparent way.

But, that said, it’s been interesting to observe the LIV players here, some apparently feeling like gatecrashers at a party, craving acceptance and wondering if they should mingle or stay among themselves.

Open Champion Cameron Smith, who was a candidate for 2022 Player of the Season until he jumped to the LIV Series last August, expressed his relief in his Tuesday press conference at the warmth he received from PGA Tour players when he walked out on the practice ground for the first time this week.

"Went out on the range and did my stuff and it was just a really nice experience," he said.

"I didn’t want to expect too much but at the same time, I kind of wanted that, not only for myself but for the game of golf," he added.

On the eve of the championship, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, in his annual address was questioned as to why the LIV Commissioner Greg Norman was not invited to Augusta this year.

He sounded conciliatory and did not rule out a further invitation but seemed to infer that he felt the presence of Norman would be a distraction before adding:

"The tone has been