Gary Player reckons Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will be tough to beat at the Masters this week.

The South African golfing legend will join Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer on Thursday morning to hit the ceremonial opening drives at Augusta, and has his own thoughts on how McIlroy and Woods will fare at the year's first major.

"I think Rory has a little revenge in his heart for the golf course," said Player.

"You remember last year he was playing so well and was leading and he had that collapse in the final round with an 80.

"The way he recovered from that upset at the US Open a couple of months later showed what maturity he has.

"The disappointment might have seriously affected a less mentally strong young man."

Despite the high praise, Player, like the rest of the golfing world, has taken note of Tiger Woods' victory at the recent Arnold Palmer Championship, and expects the former world number one to have a strong showing.

"He played extremely well when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before last - it's the first time I've seen him drive the ball well in a long time," he said.

"He's going to be very, very tough at Augusta. He knows the course (Woods is a four-time winner), he's confident.

"He's had a tough time for two years and he's very hungry - I expect him to do extremely well.

"Can Tiger beat Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship wins? His two years away from the game has certainly disrupted what seemed to be an inevitable progression to that record. To what degree, I don't know.

"He certainly has the ability to do it, but it would be very foolish to predict what would happen because he has got to win five more majors to pass Jack - a very difficult task.

"But he is a man with such focus and dedication and hunger, I don't see anyone else quite like that in the game of golf today."

Golf 365