The Roar
The Roar

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Day and Scott are red-hot chances to wear green at Augusts

Jason Day is partnered with some lesser lights at the British Open. (Photo: AP)
Expert
6th April, 2016
4

The US Masters hasn’t been kind to Australians, with only one winner in 79 editions – Adam Scott in 2013.

And only four Australians have finished second at Augusta.

Jack Newton, the ever likeable larrikin, shared second with American Gibby Gilbert to the champion Seve Ballesteros in 1980. Greg Norman wasn’t a starter.

But he was in 1986, 1987, and 1996 where he was runner-up in all three.

The first was to Jack Nicklaus, the second to Larry Mize in a play-off, and the third to Nick Faldo in one of the most bizarre golf tournaments of all time.

Norman led Faldo by six after 54 holes, but lost by five and still finished second – the 11-stroke turnaround still mind-boggling to this day.

The other two Australians who have finished second were Day and Scott to South African Charl Schwartzel in 2011.

Now there’s a coincidence.

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In a five-week period in February-March this year, Scott won the Honda Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Championship, Schwartzel won the Valspar, and Day completed the five-week rout by southern hemisphere golfers by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-Dell Match Play.

Those are three genuine Masters contenders for the 80th edition.

But there are six more – the defending champion Jordan Spieth, two-time champion Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, and world number three Rory McIlroy who requires a green jacket to complete a career Grand Slam and join the only other five Slammers in history – Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Never has there been such an elite field arriving via Magnolia Drive.

And looking at the tee times, only Scott has been short-changed by his playing partners, Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka, who are both good players.

But the Australian could have been given far better golfers as a past champion for the first 36 holes that can make or break any campaign.

Spieth will have Paul Casey and the very talented American amateur Bryson DeChambeau, hitting off at 11.48pm AEST.

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Day will be with Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els – off at 3.06am tomorrow.

McIlroy will be last off at 4.01am tomorrow with Martin Kaymer and Bill Haas – now that is a marquee group.

The universally popular Mickelson will be with Marc Leishman and Stenson – off at 0.43am tomorrow, another top shelf marquee trio. Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas,and Emilliano Grillo will tee off at 11.59pm tonight.

Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Dufner, and Patrick Reed will be off at 11.37pm. Schwartzel, Davis Love III, and the fast improving Rafa Cabrera-Bello tee off at 2.22am tomorrow morning.

Justin Rose, Jamie Donaldson, and Daniel Berger will be off at 0.54am.

While Sergio Garcia, still looking for his first major after 69 starts, will be with quality golfer Danny Willett, and Ryan Moore, teeing off at 3.39am tomorrow.

So buckle up Roarers, the first golfing major of the year is going to be a rocky but exciting ride.

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