Come on Rory!

published 10 April 2011

What an incredible day! Could Rory do it? It's looking increasingly possible. His tee to green game remains exemplary. So much so that, aside from the snaking putt he holed on the 17th today, he has a four-shot lead despite missing a bundle of good birdie chances.

There was a great sense of excitement around the course today. Not just because we're reaching the business end of the year's first Major, but also because the American fans seem truly taken with young Rory and they sense the possibility of a new superstar appearing in the game's firmament. Not to say that Rory hasn't already made a significant impact on golf, but victory here would lift him to another stratosphere within the game's hierarchy.

I promised myself I wouldn't gloat on this blog as I know I'm exceptionally privileged to be at this event and it's not something that many people will have the chance to do. But, I have to say, today was a simply awesome one.

After that I returned to the clubhouse for a quick pit-stop and enjoyed an "Azalea" cocktail on the lawn - that's lemonade, grenadine and a healthy slug of vodka - before walking back to the 18th green, climbing up to the press gantry and cheering all the leading contenders home.

OK so I've totally broken my rule about gloating, but hey, I just feel like talking about it. I'm on a high!

So what might happen tomorrow? If Rory holds his nerve, I think he'll do it. Cabrera might be his biggest threat. I'm sure he's a lovely guy but there's something a little intimidating about him. He plays with a natural flair and is capable of firing in early birdies that might just rattle the young Northern Irishman. Tiger is seven back. Too far? Probably. If it had been just one man ahead of him he might have been able to replicate a Faldo vs Norman scenario. But with so many quality players between him and Rors, I just don't think he'll get the chance.

I'm off out now to try and find somewhere to get a bite to eat. The town is buzzing and every restaurant and bar is packed out with excited golf fans. With Bo Van Pelt the best placed American in 8th place, most of them have placed their allegiance firmly with young Ulsterman. It can only help.

In his press conference, Rory was asked if he had any communication from Graeme McDowell. He said he'd received a text message that read, "I love you." Everyone laughed. If tomorrow he can become the first European Masters champion since 1999, he's going to receive plenty more messages expressing that sentiment.

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Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?