AUGUSTA (AFP) — Jack Nicklaus picked Rory McIlroy to win this week’s Masters on Thursday after sharing advice with the world No. 2, and fellow honorary starters Gary Player and Tom Watson agreed.

The legends hit ceremonial shots off Augusta National’s first tee before the 89th Masters began.

All like the chances of McIlroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, completing a career Grand Slam by capturing the Masters on Sunday for his first major title since 2014.

“I just have a gut feeling that Rory is the guy that’s going to win this week,” eight-time major winner Watson said.

McIlroy is trying to join career Grand Slam winners Nicklaus, Player, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

“I think Rory McIlroy will win the Masters this year and I hope he does because it would give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam,” Player said.

“He has the best swing in golf without a question. He’s the fittest golfer. He does a dead lift of 400 pounds... and I think timing in life. He has had his adversities, his opportunities to win majors, and let them slip. It’s just the right time for him to win now.”

Nicklaus, whose record 18 major titles include a record six Masters wins, made it unanimous.

“I think the same as you two guys,” Nicklaus said.

“I think it’s about time that Rory won.”

The 85-year-old icon went over every hole at Augusta National with 35-year-old McIlroy at lunch last week.

“I said, ‘Rory, I know you prepared for Augusta. Tell me how you’re going to play the golf course,’” Nicklaus said.

“We went through it shot for shot. And he got done with the round, and I said, ‘Well, I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.’”

Nicklaus says McIlroy has developed the discipline in his game to avoid a stray bad hole that has undone his 10 prior attempts to complete the career Slam at Augusta National.