Rory McIlroy stands on the cusp of history, but the returning Tiger Woods is among those looking to prevent the world number one from etching his name in the record books in one of the most eagerly awaited Masters of all time.
Northern Irishman McIlroy will become just the sixth player to achieve a career grand slam if he triumphs at Augusta this weekend - joining luminaries of the game Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player in achieving the feat.
An outstanding 2014 saw McIlroy win the Open Championship and US PGA Championship and he is rightly the favourite to receive the famous green jacket from defending champion Bubba Watson on Sunday.
The 25-year-old has spoken in the build-up about how his collapse in the 2011 Masters has been the catalyst for his success.
The record books show that last year's eighth-placed finish was McIlroy's best showing at Augusta, but four years ago he held a four-shot lead heading into Sunday's play.
However, he endured a nightmare final-round collapse and an error-strewn 80 saw his dreams go up in smoke.
It took a mere two months for McIlroy to bounce back as he won the first of his four majors at the US Open that same year and the pressure is now on to complete his haul.
Ironically, Woods' return from a self-imposed two-months hiatus may have alleviated the pressure on McIlroy as so much of the focus has been on the will he, won't he? saga surrounding Woods' participation.
The 14-time major champion has not played competitive golf since his withdrawal after 11 holes at the Farmers Insurance Open in February following a dramatic and well publicised drop in form, while concerns about his persistent back injury have remained.
Woods, who now sits outside the world's top 100, confirmed his participation last week and if he were to collect a fifth green jacket it would represent arguably one of the greatest comebacks in golfing history such has been his fall from grace in recent times.
Key for Woods, who missed the 2014 Masters through injury, will be to overcome a short game that completely fell apart during his loss of form, with touch around the greens vital to tackling one of the most challenging courses in the game.
With so much of the attention stolen by McIlroy and Woods there are plenty of players that have slipped under the radar.
That may suit defending champion Watson, who has won the tournament in two of the past three years and the American undoubtedly has the length of drive off the tee and delicacy around the greens to join Nicklaus, Woods and Nick Faldo as the only men to have defended the Masters.
Indeed, as ever there will be a strong contingent from United States aiming to shoot their way into Masters folklore.
Jordan Spieth has been touted as the man possibly best equipped to challenge McIlroy this weekend, borne out of an outstanding Masters debut in 2014.
The 21-year-old was runner-up to Watson and is bang in form having won March's Valspar Championship, recorded a second-placed finish at the Texas Open and lost the Houston Open in a play-off last weekend to J.B. Holmes.
Rickie Fowler, fifth last season, is a man never far away at the majors and went on to finish runner-up twice and third in the other three majors last season.
Patrick Reed is a four-time winner on the PGA Tour and has the confidence, guile and self-assured nature to trouble the leaderboard, while Dustin Johnson - one of the few players who can match McIlroy for distance off the tee - has returned from a self-imposed exile to deal with personal problems in fine form, including victory at the World Golf Championships.
At 44-years-old Phil Mickelson represents the old guard and he has endured a tricky few months, but the prize of a fourth Masters victory may awake him from his slumber.
Away from the States, Sweden's Henrik Stenson has proved his mettle with four top-four finishes in majors over the past two seasons, but his best at Augusta came last year when he placed 14th.
Adam Scott, the 2013 champion, and fellow Australian Jason Day will also be among the favourites this weekend.