David Howell Makes His Masters Picks

Two-time Ryder Cup player and Sky Sports Golf pundit, David Howell has looked ahead to this week's Masters Tournament in an interview with Golfshake's Josh Carr. Having played three times at Augusta - finishing 11th, 19th and 44th - the Englishman has great experience of the year's first major, and he kindly shared some of that knowledge with us.

"Dustin Johnson is obviously the favourite and rightly so," the five-time European Tour winner said. "Unfortunately with what's going on off the course, it isn't going to be Jason Day's year. Jordan Spieth clearly, with his massive mental capacity and putting and his love of Augusta, you have to fancy Jordan. Unless he plays terribly, he will be in with a shout with a round to go."

There is significant attention surrounding Rory McIlroy again this year, as he seeks to complete the career grand slam. Can the four-time major champion digest that additional pressure from within? "And then Rory, you know he's putting better. Life's good for Rory at the moment," added Howell. "He's just signed his Nike deal, getting married, happy, fit again and we all think he has got a Masters in him. Of course he has. I probably wouldn't look past those (players) really."

Johnson, Spieth and McIlroy are the clear favourites, but could a talented Spanish rookie make a bit of history down Magnolia Lane? "The new boy, Jon Rahm, he's the guy who's just playing crazy good constantly. With his attitude, I don't know whether with a round to go he can go on to do it though."

Despite being ranked highly, Danny Willett was considered a relatively left-field winner last year, but could another one of the record eleven English players in the field have a run at the title on Sunday? Showing considerable bookmaker acumen, Howell noted: "You get good odds, and each way I'd go Tyrrell Hatton. He's come to America now and he's playing well. He's really on a good run of form and everything's going the right way. It's quite like Danny Willet in his preparation if you like. His form coming in is definitely the man to do it. I think as a top five bet, you'd get some reasonably odds on Tyrrell."

You've now heard from David Howell, but if you want more picks and opinions, the Golfshake Team has put together a number of selections of their own, selecting a winner and possible outside contenders.