It’s Master’s week. If you’ve read the blog in the past you know we’ll check in on golf especially during the 4 majors, and this is one of those times.
Let’s preview the top 10 contenders for the first major of the year.
1. Rory Mcilory
Rory Mcilory is the world’s number 1 player, and a 4-time major winner at age 25. He won the last 2 majors of 2014, and lacks only the Masters for a career grand slam. He has the highest ceiling of any golfer in the world, and if he’s on his game in Augusta, then the tournament is a wrap.
All Sports Discussion Odds of Winning: 5 to 1
2. Dustin Johnson
How Dustin Johnson has never contended at the Masters has always struck me as a bit odd. The tour’s longest driver should be an annual contender in Augusta. He’s basically a right handed version of of 2-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson. This year he has a 4 top 10 finishes in 6 starts including a win at the WGC Cadillac Championships. We have to watch his putting, because that is what can make or break Johnson in his quest for a Green Jacket.
All Sports Discussion Odds of Winning: 10 to 1
3. Bubba Watson
I’m not sure in the next 5 years, that I’ll ever have Bubba Watson outside of the top 10 in a Masters preview. The course perfectly suits his long driving game, and that’s why he is a 2-time winner of the Green Jacket and the defending champion. He’s come to Augusta without a finish outside of the top 15. If he putts well, he’ll be right in the thick of things on Sunday.
All Sports Discussion Odds of Winning: 15 to 1
4. Jordan Spieth
With apologies to Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth is America’s best young golfer. Just 21 years old, he’s already a top 5 world player. 6 Top 10 finishes this year, including a win at the Valspar Championship. Last year he finished 2nd at the Masters. Spieth is ranked in the top 10 in putting, and that’s a great stat to have at Augusta. He’s primed to win his first major, and is coming off a 2nd place finish at the recent Houston Open.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 18 to 1
5. Jason Day
Jason Day is one of the best golfers in world to have to never won a major. He 7 top 10s in majors since 2010, including a couple of top 5s at the Masters. Day has been dealing with some injury issues in the last year, but he may have put that behind him. He won the Farmer’s Insurance Open in February and has a couple of other top 10s. He’s a sneaky long player who averages over 300 yards a drive. Augusta always favors the long hitters.
All Sports Discussion Odds of Winning: 20 to 1
6. Adam Scott
When looking for Masters contenders, look for long hitters, good putters, and former champions or players with several high Masters finishes. Adam Scott is a former Green Jacket winner. He’s played a limited schedule this year with 1 top 10 finish at the Cadillac Championship, and he’s going back to the long putter saying it gives him the best shot at winning the event. I’m not betting against one of the purest swings in professional golf.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 25 to 1
7. Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson is now ranked in the top 5 in the world and is one of the best putters in golf. He’s not especially long, but he can putt as we said, and can hit greens. That’s sounds alot like former Masters champion Zach Johnson. Stenson has 4 top 5 major finishes in his last 6 major starts. He hasn’t played Augusta all that well in his career, but this could be a year we see Stenson contend.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 30 to 1
8. Phil Mickelson
In his last major Mickelson finished 2nd at the PGA Championship, but that was his only top 10 finish of last year. We know the 3-time Masters loves Augusta, but can he contend? Quietly this year he’s had several rounds in the 60s, including the past week’s Houston where he was 1 shot out of the lead at the halfway point. Mickelson’s issue this year is that he hasn’t been able to put 4 good rounds in a row together. It’s just a matter of time before he does that, and it could be at the Masters.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 40 to 1
9. Rickie Fowler
T5,T2,T2,T3 – Those were Rickie Fowler’s finishes in majors last year. With Fowler throw out the results during the PGA season, because he has the ability to win a major. He proved that last year. He comes into the Masters without a top 10, but don’t be shocked if you see him on the leaderboard on Sunday.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 45 to 1
10. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods fills my darkhorse spot. Woods’s game is no condition to contend at event like the Masters, especially with a short game in shambles the last time we saw him play competitively. That said he’s still a 4-time winner of this tournament, and since 2005 has only one finish outside the top 6 at Augusta when he’s played. I don’t expect him to win, but if he can get a good a first round in and get his confidence going you never know.
All Sports Discussion odds of Winning: 50 to 1
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