An intriguing Masters in prospect — as usual

By Neville Idour

For various reasons The Masters at Augusta this month is shaping up as something of a blockbuster.

Trying to pick winners is not my favourite occupation but looking at some of the form horses this year is an intriguing prospect.

With only around 100 players The Masters is by far the smallest field of the four major championships in men’s professional golf, if not the strongest. There is no qualifying way in to the field. It is top 50 world ranked or the various invite categories.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan celebrates on the No. 18 green after winning during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 11, 2021. (Photo by Augusta National via Getty Images)

Recent winners Hideki Matsuyama (2021), Dustin Johnson (2020), Patrick Reed (2018), Sergio Garcia (2017), Jordan Spieth (2015), Bubba Watson (2014 and 2012) and Adam Scott (2013) will all be there.

Matsuyama said: “I am looking forward to returning to defend my title and playing the best I can.”

Matsuyama had to withdraw from The Players' Championship with a back problem but says he is 80 percent mended and ready to go. It would be a super effort for him to repeat last year. Of the others Johnson and possibly Scott look more likely while the others, although capable, have not been at their best of late.

Johnson has been something of an enigma since his Masters win in November 2020. Hard to believe that was his last top five finish until the just completed World Golf Championship Matchplay event where he finished fourth after showing the missing consistency may be close to returning. Several excellent wins in the matchplay tournament, and especially satisfying, was his comeback from two down to beat the super confident Brooks Koepka.

Scott also showed his game is on the rise with some solid wins in the matchplay event but probably not quite sharp enough to win at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau will have lots of support but admits a broken bone in his wrist, which saw him take six weeks off, is not helping. After the WGC Matchplay he said: “I lack confidence in my wrist as my drives were not going where I wanted. It will get it ironed out over time but as of now it is holding up well.” His frame of mind is still positive.

Four time major winner Koepka, who has competed at six Masters with two top 10s, a missed cut in 2021 and a best finish of tied second in 2019, is obviously in the hunt. He would love to add a Masters to his resume. In fact if you were to ask him for a tip he would likely pick himself.

Asked by Golf Channel if The Masters suits his game he said: “Every major suits me. I like the pressure.”

Late last year he said he saw no reason why he couldn’t match Tiger Woods’ 15 major wins or maybe even Jack Nicklaus' 18 majors.

“In my mind I’m going to catch Tiger. I believe that. I do not see any reason to stop me. There is still plenty of time. At 31, I have another 14 years left. One a year I catch Nicklaus.’'

No doubt time will tell.

File: Jon Rahm of Spain, many tip the former No:1 to be in the mix for this year’s Green Jacket (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)

For many pundits Jon Rahm, the now former world No 1, is favourite to win the green jacket. If he is on his game he will be right up there, but lately he seems to be missing that golden touch by a smidgeon at times. Canadian Corey Connors, who had some very impressive wins at the WGC Matchplay culminating in a fine win over Dustin Johnson for third place, could be one to watch.

Which brings me to the two players who look to be the form horses.

Australian Cameron Smith, 28, has been banking some seriously good golf performances in 2022. His two wins have come at two completely different styles of courses, one in Hawaii and the other in The Players' Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, beating the strongest field in golf. Also bear in mind his impressive record in his five appearances at Augusta — three top 10s including runner-up to Johnson in 2020. His youth and experience with five PGA Tour wins to his name make a good combination along with his New Zealand caddie Sam Pinfold.

So to the form player Scottie Scheffler, 25, who was an irresistible force at the WGC Matchplay beating many of the very best players on his way to a decisive 4 and 3 championship win against one of the best match players on the planet, Kevin Kisner. Scheffler had been runner-up in the same event last year so was overcome with emotion to finish the job this time.

What is extraordinary is that, having contended for a PGA Tour title so often it took until the Phoenix Open to gain his first win when world ranked 15th. Forty two days later and with this third win under his belt he is world No 1. It was the fastest ascension to number one following a first PGA Tour win by a country mile. Not even Tiger Woods came within a bull’s roar of that.

As a final note Phil Mickelson is missing from the lineup for the first time since 1993. The word from is that it may well be a case of Augusta asking him not to come because of the unwanted baggage he may bring and the PGA Tour has him under ban, thus also jeopardising his defending his PGA Championship title. The PGA Tour is always silent regarding discipline so it is a case of wait and see.