A Tradition Unlike Any Other is upon us and it's time for a look at the current odds for some in the field.
A big congratulations to Matt Jones who earned his first Masters invitation on Sunday by beating Matt Kuchar in a playoff at the Shell Houston Open:
For those who don't know, the Masters is the smallest major tournament field each year and a golfer earns an invitation by:
- Having previously won the Masters (lifetime invitation)
- The previous 5 winners of each of the other Major tournaments
- The previous 3 winners of the Players Championship
- Various amateur champions in the US, Britain and Asia
- The first 4 players in each of the previous years Major tournaments (12 for previous Masters)
- Winning a Fed Ex Cup event between last years Masters and this years
- Being in the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings
The weather in Augusta all week is going to be sunny and temperatures are expected to get as high as 81 on Sunday. I expect the greens to be fast and the course to be in perfect shape.
The current odds according to Vegas Insider are:
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Adam Scott 10/1
The Field 15/1
Phil Mickelson 15/1
Jason Day 15/1
Dustin Johnson 15/1
My short list for potential champions:
Rory McIlroy
Last Week:T-7, Shell Houston Open
Best Finish:T-2, Honda Classic
Why Rory will win:Yes, Rory absolutely choked his lead away at the Honda Classic, and yes he hasn't won since 2012, but it just feels about time for him. He's played fairly well this year and I think he's finally gotten past the cringe-worthy back-9 in the 2011 Masters. Look for Rory to be in contention during the weekend.
Matt Kuchar
Last Week:2, Shell Houston Open
Best Finish:See above
Why Matt will win:Looking past his blown 4-shot lead going into the final round over the weekend, Kuchar looks in peak form. Through 3 rounds last week he looked absolutely stellar, which is so important in the week before the biggest tournament of the year. Kuchar hit 88.9% greens in regulation and had a putting average of 1.6 on those GIRs. The person who can avoid 2-putting at Augusta has a huge chance at winning.
Jason Day
Last Week:DNP
Best Finish:1, WGC Match Play
Why Jason will win:While Day hasn't played much this year, he has won a tournament which has to give him some confidence going into Masters week. Last year, Day finished 3rd at the Masters but also put up quite an impressive year. In the Majors, Day made all 4 cuts while having 3 top-10 finishes. Even more impressive, he wasn't cut at any tournament he entered. The only reason I'd be wary about Jason Day is that we're not really sure that he's completely recovered from a thumb injury.
Honorable Mention
Adam Scott (last year's champion), Phil Mickelson (3-time champion), Angel Cabrera (Why not? The man's only 2 wins on tour are major tournaments and came within inches of a third)
On a lighter note, since my roommates and I are taking a difficult 6 credits this semester, we're setting up monitors to be able to watch all of the Masters streams all week. Yes, life is good.
#12, part of Amen Corner
#13 green
Comments
Can't wait! Doing a Sunday Funday Daylong for the final day. I'd like to see Rory in the final pairing on Sunday. Nonetheless, looking forward to 4 days of phenomenal golf.
I'm going with my boy Matt Kuchar, his short game will keep him at the top of the leaderboard all weekend.
Have any of you ever been there? I'm not much of a golf fan but my parents now live in Augusta. My dad got two passes to the Sunday of the 2012 masters and I was there when Bubba won the green jacket. I had never been to a golf tournament but it was amazing to hear the ball fly past you and to know that you could possibly be hit by a stray ball. Even weirder was seeing people run up to hover around a ball that was feet from you and see a pro golfer that close. I have to say, that they are very friendly, when walking through the crowd they may not stop to talk but they don't get pushy. Phil Mickelson walked two feet from me and i said hi to him and he nodded at me, a lot of pro athletes would ignore you. I saw Bubba get his green jacket from the edge of the rope that circles the area where they let in all the Masters winners and the reps from other countries. It was pretty neat. But not being all that into golf it wasn't as exciting as some of you who are. But it was a cool deal nonetheless.
It's definitely on my bucket list to go.
A friend of mine used to always go to the Phoenix Open - that, too, is on the bucket list. It apparently is a huge party. It's the same place where they have the caddy race on the 16th
I've heard that there are some parties at the Masters if you know the right place to go. The one thing I will say as well is if you are going to go, and plan to be on a hole, get a chair out first thing, apparently that's the thing. They drop their chair on one of the early days and reserve a spot.
Never been, but to a golf fan this is the place to be. Most people would give their left nut to be able to just go there once. I'd be willing to give both to go there and I'd probably do some very unsavory things to be able to play a round there.
I think I'd be that way to stand on the sideline of a Tech game at Lane Stadium.
Been twice now. Once for the practice round when Mickelson won his first (2004) I believe. And then I was able to go to the first round last year. There is no place like it as a golfer. Those pictures do not do it justice. you just cannot believe how green it is. The place is immaculate from the time you walk in the gate and in all areas. You just cannot believe it. Not only is the course spectacular, but they do not gouge you with prices either. They make it so enjoyable that you leave just wanting more. One thing you will notice if you ever do go, they pay for their own labels on everything so a bottle of water will have Masters on it and not something like Aquafina and that applies to everything they sale. I found that interesting. It is a must go especially for any golfer.
And oh. I have a sneaky suspicion that Kuchar wins it this year.
I'd just like to go to Augusta and walk around the empty course one day during the spring. Ain't got to hit no balls.
Might chew on some bermuda grass though.
The grass is very well taken care of and it's a nice walk. As far as being there when it's empty, I think that would be awesome. I'm sure you'd enjoy the grass.
If you do that you might as well play it! That is on my bucket list. I wanna play that course. I'm sure that would be tough to get access to, but it would be awesome!!
Gotta practice first:
dont sleep on jordan spieth
Why are you only taking 6 credits?
I co-oped so I'm a 5th year senior, only need senior design. I decided to take Geography of Wine to add extra credits.
Gotcha, enjoy it.
Smart money is on the field, but I'll take Phil.
I'm extremely disappointed Tiger's out.
Brendon de Jonge for the win.