Masters 2015: Latest Quotes from Golf's Top Favorites at Augusta

The top favorites at the 2015 Masters form quite the cast. 

They talk like it, too, seeming to realize just how much is at stake this year at Augusta in a wide-open field.

At the top, Rory McIlroy gets a first crack at a career Grand Slam at a tournament he has yet to conquer. Meanwhile, young Jordan Spieth rides a boatload of momentum and wants to steal the throne. Bubba Watson just wants to put on a repeat performance and secure a second consecutive green jacket.

As the main attraction of the media this week, the three have plenty to say about the upcoming classic.

What They're Saying 

Rory McIlroy

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

For a guy who closed last year in a strong manner, highlighted by wins at The Open Championship and PGA Championship, there seems to be a bit of desperation surrounding the world's top player.

It's only natural. The globe has no idea what McIlroy's form is like right now. He has only appeared in three tournaments this year, one of them a missed cut at The Honda Classic.

He has made it clear his return to action comes at a course still meaning quite a lot to him, if not giving him trouble.

“The first tee shot of this tournament is the only shot I get nervous about these days,” he said, per SkySports.com. “You get butterflies and your heart races a little bit. I still get that feeling that I did when I was a rookie.

It's an interesting quote for a man getting his first shot at a Grand Slam. McIlroy posted his best finish at the tournament last season, a tie for eighth, quite a strong sign for the future considering he believes Augusta is the one course continuing to challenge him in his weak areas.

“The majors I’ve won have been sort of big golf courses,” McIlroy said, per PGATour.com's Brian Wacker. “Augusta isn’t like that. There’s a lot of touch, a lot of finesse. That’s the one thing I’m still trying to get better at, that style of golf."

For fans, McIlroy's talk of the tournament should be encouraging. He's taking it as seriously as ever and with the belief his weak points will do nothing short of improve at Augusta.

Bubba Watson

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The winner of two green jackets in three years, the chatter surrounding Watson is quite the mixed bag.

First, the bad. ESPN.com took a poll, which, in summary, suggests PGA Tour players don't like Watson too much. Granted, tour players don't often get in street fights, but it's notable Watson was a runaway winner of sorts—something he acknowledges and takes in stride.

"I take it as I need to improve as a man," Watson said, per Yahoo Sports' Ryan Ballengee. "I take it with pride. I need to get better. And I think over my career, since my rookie season to now, I've gotten better. But obviously there's more room for me to improve as a man."

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Watson seems to be in good spirits, all things considered. It's an important note for one of the top favorites this week, considering the last time he was seen in tournament play was back on March 8, where he took third place at the Cadillac Championship.

For his part, Watson says an absence from tour play won't hurt his game.

"I've played. I just haven't played in competition. But when I'm playing for a burrito or a Smoothie I'm mad if I lose," Watson said, per USA Today's Steve DiMeglio. "I feel good. Last year I took off two weeks before the tournament and did pretty good."

He also told DiMeglio when it comes to preparation he's better off than in past years: "This year I know what I'll be doing. I have my routine down, I'll be more comfortable. I'll just go in there, use my time wisely, use my energy wisely, and hopefully at the end of the week I'll be in contention on the back nine."

Repeat winners at Augusta are quite rare, but Watson seems to think he has the necessary ingredients despite an absence from the public eye.

Who wants to doubt a winner in two of three?

Jordan Spieth

George Bridges/Associated Press

The hype around the 21-year-old Spieth is at a fever pitch.

For good reason, too, considering he boasts seven top-10 placements since last December, including a pair of top-two performances at the Valero Texas Open and the Shell Houston Open.

Few players are in better form at this point, hence Spieth's ranking third in scoring average (69.509), per PGATour.com.

For Spieth, world No. 1 and a tie with Tiger Woods in age at the time of an Augusta triumph is in focus. The latter is the top point right now, as he told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Jimmy Burch, via PGA.com, when asked about matching Woods: "That would be really cool. Hopefully, I can stay calm and collected and just try and pick some tight lines off the tee ... and keep putting consistently. That's what I have in mind. Anything can happen. I'm going to go into next week looking to try and compete, see if I can get in position [to win] like last year."

Of course, folks remember last year when Spieth came out of nowhere to tie for second place.

Spieth speaks on the topic of last year's narrow miss ad nausea at this point, it being perhaps the biggest story this season. He says the experience gives him plenty of confidence for this week.

“I feel as prepared as I think I could be,” he said, per Bill Nichols of The Dallas Morning News. “I feel more and more comfortable with more and more pressure, and that gives me a lot of confidence going into Augusta, where you probably have the most pressure anywhere.”

Given his experience on the stage and momentum, it's hard to doubt the words of Spieth, young or not.

Stats and info courtesy of PGATour.com unless otherwise specified.