The wait is over as the Masters kicks off tomorrow! Everyone, buckle up! Golf’s most prestigious tournament at Augusta National kicks off at 7:40 am, as everyone sets their eyes on stopping Scottie Scheffler. Other players like Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Russell Henley have been in peak form this year, looking to win the whole thing!
Players who have had recent success at the Masters, such as Top 30 finishes, while also coming into the tournament gaining strokes tee-to-green have a very good chance to place high in this event.
Augusta National, a par-72, stretches just over 7,500 yards, but it plays longer thanks to elevation changes, swirling winds, and undulating fairways. Distance and precision off the tee with sharp iron play are must-haves, especially with small greens with severe run-offs.
Historically, players who gain strokes tee-to-green, take advantage of the par 5s, and manage the putting surfaces rise to the top. In the last 10 years, nine of the Masters champions ranked in the top 10 in strokes gained: approach during their win. While over the past 25 years, every winner has finished inside the top 30 at Augusta at least once prior to winning at Augusta.
Typically, I would not back JT as his recent majors run has not been particularly good. Having said that, JT has been locked in since the PGA Tour Championship in the fall.
Since then, he has 7 top 15 finishes in 11 events, gaining strokes tee-to-green in 10 of them, while 8 of them he gained over 4 strokes. He has also gained 10 strokes putting over his last 2 events, with 6 Top 10 finishes in those last 11 events.
Xander looks to be coming back to form since he was out most of January and all of February. Since his return, he has finished T40, 72 and is coming off a T12 at the Valspar.
There is a slight concern that he has lost strokes putting 5 straight events, and he has not been particularly sharp around the greens. He did gain almost 9 strokes tee-to-green and 7.6 total strokes last week with a whopping 11.2 strokes on approach.
If he can dial everything in this week, he has 4 Top 10 finishes here, and remember he won 2 majors last season, he has a good chance to win another this year!
Collin Morikawa continues to be one of the most consistent players on tour. This year, in 5 events he has not finished worse than T17, coming off a T10 at the Players, along with 2, T17, 17, and 2.
His Masters' finishes? 4 straight Top 20s, 3 straight Top 10s. If there has ever been a player knocking at the door, it is Collin. With two major wins under his belt, he has already proven he knows how to show up when the lights are brightest. If his putter behaves, he’s a lock to win this thing!
I will preface this by saying I am not the biggest fan of betting on Rory, personally. Every time I do, he finishes outside the Top 20 or gets cut.
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he were not one of my picks to win this event. He has been the best player on tour this season. He has won 2 events, with a T17, T15, and coming off a T5 at the Houston Open.
He has 7 Top 10 Finishes here, and we know he is chasing the elusive career Grand Slam. He may be in one of his best forms and mindsets coming into this thing, and I believe he can get it done this year.
Best Bets:
Top 10 Finish: Justin Thomas (+187)
Top 10 Finish: Xander Schauffele (+190)
Top 10 Finish: Collin Morikawa (+130)
Outright Winner: Rory McIlroy (+700)