Masters 2025: Bones Mackay gives root attachment, Intel about how technology is in sports

Bones Mackay is back at Augusta National this week, a course where he Caddied Phil Mickelson for three green jackets.

The 59-year-old Caddy did not make the trip last year when he and Justin Thomas separated only a week before the tournament after about two and a half years working together.

But now, as an analyst for the NBC again, he is on call to tradition as opposed to others.

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Jim “Bones” Mackay goes to Putting Green during a practice round for Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Kyle Terada-usa Today Network)

And like many of us, he has a particular rooting interest.

“I think Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, but no doubt Rory McIlroy is the sentimental favorite,” Mackay said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital. “You would hate to see a guy like Rory playing his entire career and not winning the masters and reaping the benefits of the Champions dinner and having the green jacket. He is too good guy and has made too much to play it not to happen. As much as Scottie is the favorite of the bet, I will secretly be rooted for Rory to have a good week.”

This year, McIlroy is able to use IBM Hole Insights to try to get the long -pulled jacket. IBM Hole Insights 2.0 utilizes Watsonx Technologies, including Granite LLM, to offer data -driven insights about each shot taken on each hole at Augusta National.

Golfers and even fans can see over 180,000 previous shots and ball positions to provide context for each hole as well as insight from previous Masters tournament injuries.

Golf Channel On-Course Reporter Bones Mackay during the first round of the Sony Open Golf Tournament at the Waialae Country Club.

Bones said the technology is now fully in use for both golfers and caddies.

“It’s a feature that is incredibly useful for players and caddies because they can see what’s going on on the golf course before their rounds, check and see how certain holes play,” Mackay said. “It’s starting to take over now. You have players coming out there and having this information from IBM and saying ‘I definitely can’t hit it in the left bunker on the fourth hole in Augusta National today based on where the flag is.’ It gives you a real idea of what you should and should not do, it improves the fan experiences and just gives you an idea of the nuances of this golf course, as Augusta National is because there is no other course like that.

McIlroy is still absent from a green jacket and his biggest drought has reached over a decade after winning four before 26 years. He almost took the United States open last year, but he missed two Putt’s worth 6.5 meters in two of the last three holes, all while Bryson DeChambeau had a legendary up and down at 18 at Pinehurst.

McIlroy has disputed before, but even his last round 81 in 2012 is still known.

“At Augusta National it can definitely come a little in your head. It’s so much easier to win the tournament a second and third time than is the first time,” Mackay said. “Scottie always wants the green jacket. He always comes back to dinner on Tuesday night, and Rory desperately wants to be part of it. He has a game perfectly suitable for this golf course, but it’s more a mental match than it’s a physical.”