Tiger Woods is officially out of the Masters this year, which probably won’t come as a huge surprise, but America can feel confident that the title will remain domestic for a third year in a row with both Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson in the running. The Masters kicks off 7 April at Augusta National, and the Invite Only event will feature 100 of the brightest golfers on the planet. Below we take a look at how the top handful are lining up.
World Number 2 Spieth is back defending the Green Jacket he won last year, and is looking to be the first to retain the title since Woods in 2002. Watson meanwhile won Augusta in both 2012 and 2014, and whilst he sits at Number 4 currently, it would come as a surprise to few were he to walk away a happy man in 2016.
Ahead of those two, however, stands Jason Day. The World Number 1 joined with Spieth to take home three of the four majors between them last year and, unlike the latter, he is in red hot form coming off the back of a couple of wins recently. Spieth on the other hand has been criticised of late with a poor run of tournaments which included not making the cut at the Northern Trust Open in February.
Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy enters Augusta aiming to join an elite group of sportsmen to win a career slam of all four majors. Having already got the US Open, Open Championships and US PGA wins under his belt, Rory has made it clear that this is the one he’s focussed on. He’s even pulled out of the traditional build-up, par-3 event the day before. No one, after all, has ever won both the build up event and the Masters in the same year.
Whilst America have a couple of hopefuls, along with the knowledge that 8 of the past 12 winners have been locals, and Australia can feel confident with both Day and a rampaging Adam Scott on the scene, European hopes of a first Masters win since 1999 (Jose Maria Olazabal if you were interested) rest pretty firmly on McIlroy’s shoulders.
We mentioned Scott just then, and we should revisit him briefly. He has been in outstanding form in 2016 and is looking like a bookie favourite, having just won back to back titles in March – the Honda Classic followed by the WGC Championship.
As with Augusta National each year, however, it may all come down to ‘Amen Corner’ – the turn through the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes. This start to the back nine casts fear into everyone taking part, and 2016 wouldn’t be the first year a leader has seen the Green Jacket slip through their hands over a few holes. McIlroy in particular will have memories of a few years back when it’s his turn to say his prayers.
Hello Punter tip: Bubba Watson by a shot.
