Ever since she was a young kid jumping from one sport she played to another, golf became a quiet and relaxing hobby for Caitlin Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year. Her very first memory? A pink bag with matching golf clubs which she begged her father for. She has already made her name in the golfing world too as she paired with Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam at The Annika last year. And now, she has returned to the golfing landscape at Augusta as she enjoys as a fan. However, her latest take on who she wished to win has turned heads.

The final day of Masters is underway and if history is any lesson where the last 37 winners at Augusta were within the top five after 54 holes, the theory narrows down the list to Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Corey Conners, Ludvig Åberg, and the T-5 tie Justin Rose and Patrick Reed. And like everyone else, Caitlin Clark is also rooting for her favorite. However, unlike other Americans probably going for the names like the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and LIV superstar Bryson DeChambeau, who is also leading the event at the second spot, or even Reed, the Indiana Fever standout has someone else in mind who she has been admiring for a long time now.

“Honestly, I tried to watch as much as I can and Rory was probably one of my favorite players growing up,” Caitlin Clark has been clear on her thoughts when it comes to the Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy. Clark’s connection to McIlroy goes beyond just watching him play; she admired his dedication and style on the course. And now, she is about to witness an amazing historic moment featuring her favorite golfer– A career grand slam. So naturally, as a basketball star who also breaks records left and right, she’s all down to support a record win.

Ahead of the final round, Clark confessed to Kira K. Dixon on the Masters’ page, “Coming into the tournament, I was rooting for Ludvig, I wanted him to win.” Clark supporting Åberg shouldn’t come as a surprise, given their friendship. During one of her golf outings last year, Åberg jokingly expressed doubts about his basketball skills, prompting Clark to playfully ask, “Can you jump?” while trying to boost his confidence.

She teased that Åberg’s athleticism would translate well to the court, despite his self-deprecating humor about not doing well in basketball. Additionally, Aberg did have an excellent run in the 2024 Masters where he finished 2nd in his debut. If he had won, he would’ve achieved something that even the top golfers have not. Currently, Ludvig Åberg is at T4 with a score of -3 going into the final round, and while that isn’t half bad, his chances of winning the major are very slim, and it seems like Clark knows that.

So, with her favorite star leading the pack with 12 under par, the No. 22 point guard revealed, “But I think Rory [McIlroy] is going to do it, which I think is going to be really cool. I think everybody…we were sitting at the 18th green yesterday on Friday, and you could just tell everybody was cheering extra hard for him. And he had a really good day, so that was really fun to watch“ Clark was impressed by McIlroy’s bounce-back performance after a tough Thursday round.

“I think he wants to get it done. Really memorable to be around for that,” she said, adding “It would make it an iconic Masters tournament.“ A win for McIlroy would add his name to the Mount Rushmore of the golfing world after his wins in the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, 2011 U.S. Open and the 2014 Open Championship. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau trails closely behind at 10 under par, keeping the competition intense, bringing back the memories of the 2011 event.

Clark’s enthusiasm is palpable as she enjoys her time at Augusta National, considering it a treat to be there. But it isn’t only Clark who wants McIlroy to win the first major of the season, as another American golfer shares the same sentiments.

A fellow PGA Tour Pro is rooting for Rory McIlroy

Billy Horschel, who unfortunately missed the cut at The Masters with a score of +5 in a cut line of +2, is eagerly anticipating the final-round showdown between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau who tee together. Horschel expressed his excitement on social media, saying, “Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day for the game of golf. Lots of storylines. The course will be gettable with benign conditions. History possibly in the making.” He’s clearly looking forward to witnessing this thrilling matchup, and his enthusiasm is palpable.

Horschel also revealed his personal preference, stating, “Personally, I would love to see Rory win and achieve something only 5 other golfers have in the game of golf have achieved.” Horschel supporting McIlroy and his aim in sight for a career grand slam really comes off as a surprise given their past clash during the 2007 Walker Cup, where Horschel’s exuberance apparently irked McIlroy. Horschel, then a University of Florida competitor, defeated McIlroy twice in the event, and his animated celebrations drew McIlroy’s ire.

Rory later recalled being annoyed by Horschel’s loud and obnoxious behavior, but a decade later, both players claim to have moved on from their amateur days. Despite this, their upcoming match at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play will be an interesting encounter, with Horschel having reflected on his past behavior as “cocky” and “emotional.” As of now, both players share a mutual respect for each other.

Other than Billy, Michael Kim, who made the cut and is standing at the T25, also took Rory’s side. He commented his thoughts on X, “CBS and ANGC couldn’t have asked for a better final day. Rory v Bryson. Unreal. I really think it’s Rory’s time. I’ll definitely be tuning in after I finish my round.”

But now it looks like the two golfers have put the feud behind them, and this nod to McIlroy’s potential historic win adds an extra layer of intrigue to the final round. With McIlroy leading DeChambeau by two strokes, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion. Can McIlroy secure his long-awaited major victory, or will DeChambeau pull off a stunning comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!