Greg Norman expects Rory McIlroy to atone for Masters failure

Greg Norman has claimed that Rory McIlroy can make up for last year's Masters failure by clinching the first major of the year at Augusta this week.

McIlroy let a final-day lead slip in the Masters 12 months ago but former world number one Norman is expecting a change in fortunes for the Northern Irishman.

Norman said: "Every top player has been there. Whether it's Arnold Palmer myself or Ballesteros or Tom Watson.

"'You bite the snake's head off and the snake's dead forever' is a quote Tom Watson told me one time.

"Rory took one bite by winning the US Open, now he can kill it forever. I really put him as a high favourite going into Augusta, no question."

Norman famously lost the Masters in 1996 despite leading the tournament by five shots.