It is that glorious time of year again for golf fans.The greatest golfing show on the planet, The US Masters begins in three weeks.
For four days every year the golfing world holds its breath to watch the world’s best golfers drive, pitch, chip, putt, massage and shape that little white ball around the hallowed turf of Augusta National Golf Club.
The US Masters is a golf tournament like no other. The history. The tradition. The beautifully manicured course. Rae’s Creek. The Azaleas. The Sunday back nine drama. During the first major of the year golfers worldwide can sit back and cherish everything that makes this game great.
The Australian contingent, led by Adam Scott and Jason Day, is as solid as ever. Scott is hitting form at the right time after winning twice in successive weeks in the last month. He is the hottest golfer on the planet at the moment and has now risen to number six in the world rankings. His ball striking and driving are back to elite status and his new ‘claw’ grip on the short putter has worked wonders (Scott has publicly thanked fellow Australian golf professional Brett Rumford for the tip).
Day hasn’t matched his 2015 form yet but he has regularly performed well at Augusta over the years, with a second in 2011 on debut and third in 2013. His length off the tee and sublime putting always makes the 2015 PGA Champion a force at Augusta. To be in contention Day will have to improve his 2016 driving accuracy, where he sits 181st on tour if he is a chance in three weeks.
Other contenders for the green jacket include:
Jordan Spieth: The defending Masters champion has one win and one missed cut from seven starts in 2016. He has been solid but not spectacular. The 22-year-old Texan and world number one is a master of delivering at the big events. His 2015 season was ‘Tiger-like’ and he will start as one of the favourites for every major of 2016.
The key to Jordan’s success is his phenomenal putting. He has an uncanny knack of sinking important putts at important moments. If he gets off to a good start like he did in 2015 he will be hard to beat.
Bubba Watson: He is in great form with a first and second in his last two starts, and sits first on Tour in 2016 for greens in regulation. Augusta sets up perfectly for the two-time Masters winner. Bubba can shape his driver with his preferred ‘cut’ to most par 5s which he easily turns into par 4s. His power game, shot shaping ability (damn those hands are special) and exquisite touch around the lightning fast greens place him as one of the favourites for the green jacket.
Rory McIlroy: The world number two has been very consistent without success at Augusta in his seven starts with four top 20s. In 2011 McIlroy blew a four-shot lead that was reminiscent of Greg Norman’s implosion in 1996. His final round score of 80 was at times hard to watch. McIlroy has had a change in putting grip this season (148th in strokes gained on tour in 2016) and with this recent change I can’t see him sinking enough putts to win around the tricky Augusta greens.
Rickie Fowler: His unorthodox takeaway and swing but finely-tuned short game continues to perform under pressure with four impressive wins in the last 12 months. His form in the majors over the last two years has been very solid without breaking through for a win. His best finish at Augusta is a tied fifth in 2014. Fowler brings in great form with the putter as he sits eighth in strokes gained on the PGA tour in 2016.
Roughie:
Henrik Stenson: The sweetest ball striker on Tour needs one club to behave during Masters week, his putter. His form this season has been mediocre at best and most alarmingly he sits 174th on tour in strokes gained putting in 2016. The flat stick has plagued him over the years and hasn’t allowed Stenson to fulfil his potential. If Stenson gets off to a good start with his putter, he has the ability to challenge for the green jacket. Henrik has four top five finishes in the last three years at majors but has failed to crack the top ten at Augusta in ten starts.
Set the alarms for 4am Australia! Let’s hope one of our Aussie men can do what Greg Norman couldn’t and bring the Green Jacket home (again after Scott won in 2013). For the record I’m tipping Adam Scott and Bubba Watson to fight it out on a drama-filled Sunday back nine with ‘Scotty’ coming out on top. Come on Aussie!
Event: US Masters 2016
Tournament Dates: April 7-10th, 2016
Location: Augusta National Golf Club- Augusta GA, USA
Pepper Jack
Guest
I've read "Every Shot Counts". It's based across generalisation, and it's course specific in terms of the PGA Tour. The Tour uses "Putts Gained" as there is only two variables - stimpmeter and grass type. Using his work isn't good as there is a wide variance of courses on the Tour. You can land a plane on the fairways of Kapalua. Pete Dye courses have small, often "upside-down saucer", greens, where GIR and scrambling is important, US Open courses have tough rough, so accuracy is key. Each course has different characteristics that need to be taken into consideration. A guy may seem like he is playing poorly due to the course not being suited by his strengths. Some players struggle on long courses, but when it comes to a tight Pete Dye course they excel, because accuracy is key. I was a golf bookmaker here and overseas for seven years, I know what I'm talking about
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
Very fair points. These statistics of driving accuracy, GIR etc are poor reflections of performance. Strokes gained is the only true reflection of how well a player is playing. Read Mark Broadie's book 'Every Shot Counts' to gain a full understanding of this concept.
Pepper Jack
Guest
The driving accuracy stats of the last dozen winners tell a different story. Of the stats of each winner since 2004 - driving distance, accuracy, GIR, scrambling, putting - accuracy is least important. The winner ranks on average 35th in accuracy (out of less then 100 players). Only one has finished in the top 10 for accuracy (Immelman), and Speith last year ranked 64th
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
Hit it in the pine straw regularly at Augusta and you will have no chance of winning the green jacket!
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
I agree Benjamin. Charl is a big chance if he continues his current form. Being a previous winner at Augusta in 2011 will provide him with the belief that all golfers need to win a major. I hope the Leish performs solidly as he normally does at Augusta.
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
Scotty's putting has always been so mental. He has found his groove with this new grip but I have always thought the short putter suits him. I think Jason Day is trying to peak at the right time for the majors in 2016 but his form isn't great at the moment. The Leish is always a chance at Augusta and has performed very well. All great points Effers!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Closer to the event you can
Lancey5times
Guest
Can you just simply back a country? My money is on South Africa. Louis, Charl or Brandon. I personally think Grace is the best player on tour yet to win a major. I know everyone will say Johnson or Snedeker but one can't string four rounds together consistently on tough tracks and the other does stupid things too often
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Driving accuracy means very little at Augusta
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
I love the Masters because you don't have to hit it 300+ metres to score well (think Zach Johnson in 2007). Former Masters winner Charl Swartzel is in great form and winning at the tough Valspar tournament is the perfect lead in. As for the Aussies I too am hoping Marc Leishman can get the job done after his runner-up performance at the Open last year.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Good one Wildman. I reckon Scotty's gotta be a show - the way he's hitting the ball and converting birds puts him up there. What putting wobbles? Jason Day worries me - I realise he was sick a few weeks back, but it's not quite the same as it was last year. I hope he gets that controlled high draw going off the tee. He can take a lot of threats away from any course if he manages to get it back. Marc Leishman is due a win in a major I reckon. I'd love to see him do it here.