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Masters Tournament Preview, Picks & Analysis

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 04 Apr 2016


AND so it begins. The most hotly-anticipated Masters in recent memory is about to kick off at Augusta with Jason Day in the form of his life and looking to win his second successive major.

The Australian finished 2015 in brilliant fashion but went off the boil at the start of the year. He admitted that he was struggling to live up to the expectations of both himself and others, but always knew that he would find his touch again.

He heads to Augusta having won his past two tournaments, including the WGC Dell Matchplay, during which he beat Rory McIlroy in the semi-finals before going on to thrash Louis Ooshuizen in a one-sided final. In the process, Day became world number one, overtaking Jordan Spieth and McIlroy.

McIlroy's season has been one of what-might-have-been. He has developed a worrying habit of throwing in at least one bad round in every tournament, and no golfer can afford to do that. He has also switched to a left-hand-below-right putting grip, a sure sign in any golfer that his putting is a major worry. There have been some encouraging signs that his putting is improving although he still misses more than his share of short putts.

If he wins at Augusta, McIlroy will become the latest golfer to secure all four majors. But he knows that on this golf course he simply cannot afford to have a poor round. And, more than any other golf course these guys play, putting is the key. Nobody wins The Masters without being able to putt well. Guess what? Day's putting has been sensational in recent weeks.

The same thing can be said of Adam Scott - and I never ever thought that I would be writing those words. When he had to bin his long putter, most people thought that Scott's days as a top contender were over for good. The truth is, of course, that he wasn't especially hot with the broomhandle either.

He was dreading have to resort to the short stick but it is amazing what a little bit of confidence can do for you. The Australian started holing a few putts and all of a sudden he looks like a world beater again. In three starts on the PGA Tour he won twice and finished runner-up in the other. He is in the form of his life.

There is also a case to be made for three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who has rediscovered his very best form and leads the tour stroke average this season. He has come close several times and is surely ready to win again. Of course, the one he really wants is the US Open but trust me - Lefty would settle for another Green Jacket. He knows how to win around Augusta and knowing that he is hitting the ball straight again will boost his confidence. Then there is his sublime short game.

Rickie Fowler will also have an army of supporters and will attract a lot of money from those looking to make a few pounds. He has won on both the European and PGA Tours in 2016 and is playing beautifully. He is also able to adapt his game to prevailing conditions and loves Augusta, where he has come close in the past. Like the others we have looked at so far, Fowler hits the ball a long way and is blessed with the touch of an angel around the greens.

The best English hope is surely Justin Rose. He chased Spieth all the way when The Masters was last played and knows Augusta as well as anybody else in the field. He has been quietly going about his business, accumulating lots of top-10 finishes and depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars into an already bulging bank account. Rose has the game to win The Masters, and this could well be his year.

All of this means that Spieth will arrive at Augusta under the radar, with few people giving him a prayer of making a successful defence of the title he won so brilliantly 12 months ago. Spieth has suffered a reaction to his brilliant 2015, and that is hardly surprising. In truth, he has actually played not too badly but is missing too many greens with his approach shots. His putting statistics may not look terribly different to 2015 but that is because he has been so brilliant at getting up and down to save par, whereas during his brilliant run last year he was holing putts from all over the place for birdies.

It is utter nonsense to write Spieth off as a one-season wonder. If he plays only averagely well this week but putts at his best he will win again. Personally, I believe he is going to come up short.

Masters Picks & Tips

To Win:

Justin Rose. Ready to win his second major

Each Way

Jason Day. Difficult to bet against him

Rory McIlroy. Perfect time to win first event of 2016

Masters Fantasy Picks

Justin Rose. Has the game and the temperament

Jason Day. Will be there or thereabouts

Rory McIlroy. Simply the best

Hideki Matsuyama. A big-time player

Charl Schwartzel. Looking like the man who has already won this title

Louis Oosthuizen. Surely must win another major soon

Jordan Spieth. Would be foolish to write him off

Phil Mickelson. Don't bet against the big guy

Adam Scott. How will he cope with lightning-fast greens?

Rickie Fowler. The complete package

 


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