83rd Masters Tournament

[Davis Love III]

Augusta National is the picturesque landscape that provides the stage for greatness, but that beauty masks a perilous danger that lies beneath the immaculate surface. Legends have been forged down Magnolia Lane, but many dreams have been cruelly shattered in view of the azaleas. It can only be the Masters Tournament, which possesses a unique relationship with golfers each April.

Being played at the same venue every year, there is a connection that we have to this event unlike any other. When the Masters comes around, we are reacquainted with Augusta, we know the holes, recalling moments of the past, and watch the best players of today attempting to claim a small piece of that rich history. It’s a tournament that unfailingly captures our imagination.

When you move beyond the superlatives and hype, ultimately, the Masters is the most exclusive of golf's major championships, this year welcoming a field of just 87 players, a mixture of the game's elite, former champions and invited amateurs. Such a limited gathering almost guarantees a leaderboard of the highest quality on Sunday, which has partly contributed to the excitement that this week annually generates among the public. 

Much of the tournament is undoubtedly iconic. From the layout to the green jacket, the Masters resonates with golfers deeply, and those emotions are present within the players themselves. Having the chance to win here is something they have imagined since childhood. For some, that pressure can prove to be overwhelming.

Rory McIlroy comes to Georgia as the favourite, but with the weight of expectation on his shoulders. He’s been here before. Since his agonising final day collapse eight years ago, the Masters has remained elusive as he accumulated other golf’s grandest prizes. Last April’s final pairing with eventual champion Patrick Reed was just another disappointment for the Northern Irishman.

However, this time, he returns with a swagger back to his step. Having played consistently since the summer, albeit without picking up the victories, the 29-year-old overcame the strongest field in golf at the Players Championship to secure one of the most significant triumphs of his career. That was only last month, and McIlroy’s game is at a level where anything but contention would be a shock.

Storms have softened up the venerable, undulating fairways of Augusta, playing into his prodigious hands off the tee, but until he eventually does feel the validation of a green jacket on his shoulders, there will always be doubts about his ability to complete the career grand slam and etch his face onto the Mount Rushmore of golf.

The only thing that would surpass McIlroy’s breakthrough at the Masters – as a story – is a fifth triumph for Tiger Woods, something that only two years would have been a laughable prospect, but now feels likelier than it has done for half a decade. Now 43, the American’s comeback went beyond reasonable expectations. He won the Tour Championship. He contended in both The Open and PGA. He made it back onto the Ryder Cup team. Though he hasn’t quite reached those heights this season, his iron play is the strongest part of his game – the most necessary qualification to unlock Augusta National – and his depth of experience cannot be discounted. Whether he has the firepower this week to beat the elite over 72 holes is unclear, but there is no question that he could. And wouldn’t that be a tale. Transcendent. Stratospheric.

Elsewhere, the world’s current top ten are all seeking their first Masters victory. Justin Rose has an imperious record here – about as good as one can have without winning – and the Englishman is better prepared than most. Dustin Johnson has the ability to yield any course, while Justin Thomas possesses all the tools to succeed in the biggest events. For three-time major champion Brooks Koepka – a man lacking in much fanfare – there has been little joy of late, but he is a dangerous figure.

Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari first came to Augusta to caddie for his brother Edoardo in 2005, but he could conceivably add Masters glory to his Claret Jug from Carnoustie. Jon Rahm has the skills to accomplish everything, but he still has much to learn temperamentally, while Rickie Fowler is attempting to claim his first major victory after a hard-fought runner-up to Reed last year – a performance that would have won most of the past tournaments in history – as is the underrated young American Xander Schauffele, who was right there with the Italian last July in Angus.

Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Eddie Pepperell will be hoping to emulate the British successes of Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Danny Willett, while the international contingent is best represented by Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. Former champions Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia will feel optimistic, and then there is the curious case of Jordan Spieth.

Since winning the Open at Royal Birkdale in 2017, the Texan has often looked beleaguered on the course, unsure of his technique and mindset, but remains capable of flashes of sheer genius, as he demonstrated 12 months ago when he shot up the leaderboard to threaten Reed and Fowler. Just on Saturday – during the Valero Texas Open – he shot a disastrous 42 on the front-nine but rebounded spectacularly with a 31 on the back. That is Spieth, but the fact is no one has played Augusta National better than he has during the past five years. If there’s anywhere he’s going to recapture that magic touch, it’s probably here.

Many of us have grown up watching this event – alongside a parent or grandparent – and maybe the roles have now reversed sharing that experience with our own children. That’s the circle of life at Augusta National, but one player will achieve immortality this week. We’ll soon discover which story is going to be written, but there is always something to relish. It’s the Masters.

[lichtie23]

Oh I do love the Masters.....and DL3 intros!

[J_Stewart]

I've gone for a £5 e/w on Bryson Dechambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Patrick Reed. Should be a brilliant tournament as always. 

[Slacker]

Gone for:

£5 win on Rickie Fowler

£5 win on Dustin Johnson

£5 e/w on Brooks Koepka

[Mark Connolly]

£5 each way on each of Rory, Francesco and Tiger.

[Fuctifano]

Gone for Fowler, Matsuyama, and Bubba e/w  and a couple of daft £2 bets on Aaron Wise and Viktor Hovland on betfair with a view to laying them off if they're troubling the top of the leaderboard.

Charley Hoffman has been backed from 100/1 to 33/1 to be FRL based on his history here, but 90/1 to win the whole thing 

edit: as usual, great stuff from DL3 and I feel the need to mention the Sunday is my favourite annual sporting event

[pandarilla]

Anyone got a link to the blog that outlines the stats for majors?

Basically narrowing down who will win it.

[lichtie23]

Just waiting to see who wins the par 3 so I can definitely not bet on them

[Fuctifano]

Sandy Lyle was listed as the par 3 tournament winner but appears to have changed to Matt Wallace 

[Central Belt Caley]

Excellent once again DL3!

Fancy Mcilory to finally get a green jacket, been really consistent over the last few years at the Masters and his form recently has been outstanding 

If Spieth can put 4 good rounds together he'll not be far off either

Stuck £2.50 EW on Eddie Pepperell at 100/1 aswell  

[Fuctifano]

Peter Alliss looks as if he's been reanimated after dying 5 years ago on this beeb preview show. Fair play I suppose for still working at 88.

Will probably watch the BBC coverage at the weekend, I like Andrew Cotter and Ken Brown compared to the Sky guys. 

[Kuro]

Can't be fucked with the masters these days.  The epitome of cheesy plastic shite and should never be a major.  Course is stupid too.  Won't be watching.

[lichtie23]

Can't be fucked with the masters these days.  The epitome of cheesy plastic shite and should never be a major.  Course is stupid too.  Won't be watching.

Everyone is allowed their opinion, it’s just a shame that yours is a ridiculous one

[jagfox]

GOLFWRX 22 who can win the Masters

Spoiler

 

[Jaggy Snake]

I like the Masters but the lack of full TV coverage still tempers my excitement slightly. Gone for:

Dustin Johnson 12/1 (W)
Xander Shauffele 40/1 (e/w)
Marc Leishman 45/1 (e/w)
JB Holmes 125/1 (e/w) - already regret this one
Paul Casey 35/1 (Day 1 leader)

[Disco30]

Hoffmann ew
Kuchar
Thomas

That's my 3 picks.

[pandarilla]

GOLFWRX 22 who can win the Masters
Spoiler

 

Cheers chief.

[Nightmare]

On McIlroy, Rose, Rahm, Fleetwood and Koepka outright.

Looking forward to another year of one or more of them being in contention right to the end, shitting themselves with a few holes to go and me being gutted I didn’t cash out or bet e/w. Standard Masters practice.

[lichtie23]

The course looks absolutely resplendent, as expected

[Always the Sons]

On McIlroy, Rose, Rahm, Fleetwood and Koepka outright.
Looking forward to another year of one or more of them being in contention right to the end, shitting themselves with a few holes to go and me being gutted I didn’t cash out or bet e/w. Standard Masters practice.

Good selections. Though Rory price too low so did not bet and have Fowler 18’s instead of Koepka. Fleetwood 33/1 real value e/w.
Good luck