Back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy was delighted to have his parents at Augusta National to witness his triumph after they missed out a year ago.

Mum Rosie and dad Gerry were back home in Northern Ireland when he completed the career grand slam 12 months ago and he admitted they had doubts about flying over for his defence.

But they were rewarded with a one-stroke victory as he secured his sixth major.

“It’s only the second major win my mum’s been at, she was at The Open in Hoylake in 2014,” he said.

“There was a piece of them that didn’t want to come this year after not being here last year but I’m so glad they got to experience this today.

“I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and now I get two in a row.

“I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.

“It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but I’m just so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”

PA

Tondela and Gil Vicente bring round 29 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to an end when they square off at the Estadio Joao Cardoso on Monday. Both sides head into the game off the back of contrasting results, with the Gilistas claiming a comfortable home victory over AVS.

Tondela dropped three more points at the wrong end of the Primeira Liga standings last time out when they suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes.

With that result, Goncalo Feio’s men have failed to win 10 of their most recent 11 matches, losing five and picking up five draws since kicking off the year with a 3-1 victory over Arouca on January 3.

Having gained promotion from the second tier last season to end a three-year absence from the top flight, Tondela find themselves in the fight to avoid relegation, as they sit 17th in the Primeira Liga table with just 20 points from 27 games, five points away from safety.

Meanwhile, Gil Vicente cruised to a 3-0 victory over bottom-dwellers AVS at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last time out to rekindle hopes of securing European qualification.

The Gilistas had failed to win their previous five matches, losing three and picking up two draws while conceding 10 goals and scoring six across the five matches.

Gil Vicente have picked up 45 points from their 28 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit sixth in the standings, seven points behind fourth-placed Braga in the UEFA Conference League qualifying spot heading into the final six games.

Tondela vs Gil Vicente Head-To-Head and Key Numbers

• Gil Vicente hold the upper hand in the history of this fixture, having won five of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
• Tondela have picked up two wins in that time, while the spoils have been shared on two occasions.
• Gil Vicente have won just one of their most recent nine away matches, while losing three and claiming five draws since the start of November.
• Tondela are on a run of six consecutive home games without a win, losing twice and claiming four draws since January’s 3-1 victory over Arouca.

Tondela vs Gil Vicente Prediction

Buoyed by their win over AVS, Gil Vicente will look to put together solid late-season form as they eye the Conference League ticket.

The Gilistas are up against a floundering Tondela side who have struggled to impose themselves in the big leagues, and we are backing them to come away with all three points.

Prediction: Tondela 0-2 Gil Vicente

Tondela vs Gil Vicente Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result – Gil Vicente to win

Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – No (There have been fewer than three goals scored in five of the last seven meetings between the two teams)

Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards – No (There have also been fewer than five cards issued in five of their last six clashes)