Tour Stop: It's Master's Week...

Finally, it’s Christmas. Masters week. Where all other issues, plans, commitments in the world are put aside, and the television stays on. It is like a ritual every year, Monday of Masters week rolls around and I download the Masters app, best in the world, only for it to be deleted the following Monday. 

As an Australian, this means early mornings, with the weather is shifting towards winter. I will be rugging up on the couch in the early hours of the morning to watch more history unfold at Augusta. Unfortunately this year we will all be watching without the comforting voice of Verne Lundquist, hiding up in the tower on 16. I can still hear his voice, “oh my goodness….”. After 40 years up in the tower, Frank Nobilo will take his place, and I am not going to complain about that. 

Oh Rory

The talk of the town this week has, of course, been Rory McIlroy, will he ever complete the career grand slam? 11 years it has been since his last major victory, notoriously coming oh so close in last year’s US Open at Pinehurst No. 2. There is an immense amount of pressure on Rory this week, as there always seems to be in every major. Rory has had an ideal start to the season winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and The Players, and has already played two rounds at Augusta before the official week began. Does he still have it in him to win this week? Mentally can he put the years of struggle at Augusta behind him? In Rory’s Tuesday press conference, the pressure to perform he claims is just “noise” and a “narrative” he doesn’t buy into. I guess time will tell if this “noise” becomes too loud for him to handle. I would love it if he is presented with a green jacket on Sunday, or else the “narrative” will continue. 

Tree Loss

Tree loss has also been a topic of conversation, with the effects of last years Hurricane Helene evident across Augusta. Players noted that whilst the course does not play any different, there are a few sight lines from tee boxes and vistas across the course that have changed. So the tree loss will not have any impact on scoring, however according to Collin Morrikawa, it may allow himself and other players to shape their shots a touch more, with there no longer being overhanging branches on the likes of 2 and 9 tee. 

Long LIV Golf Hey? 

The LIV players have a point to prove this week, a lot of them. Jon Rahm has slipped to 80th on the OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking) yet still believes he should be known as a top 10 player. I don’t disagree, I think he has a real chance this week and is still one of the best players in the world. If he is really serious about being a top 10 player, then this week is important for him and his OWGR. His fellow Spaniard, Sergio Garcia, has been trending on the LIV tour this season with a win in Hong Kong, and just last week solo third in Miami. Bryson is always one to follow, and the best golfer on the planet according to Phil Mickelson, Joaquinn Niemann, will also be one to watch who has yet to perform in the majors with his best finish being T16 at the 2023 Masters. He has had great success on the LIV tour, but that has meant nothing given his lack luster major performances. I hope that changes this week. 

Eds Picks

Winner - John Rahm. With 17 year old Spanish Amateur, Carla Bernat Escadar, winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, I feel a Spanish double coming along, so why not pick Rahm. People forget just how good he was and I have no doubt he will get that back this week. He might even be able to squeeze a few more yards of power fade with those trees down. 

Top 10 - Jordan Spieth. Jordan loves Augusta and seems to be around the top of the leaderboard a lot. His game is trending in the right direction since wrist surgery with a T4 at the Phoenix Open and T9 at the Cognizant. 

Miss the Cut - Thomas Detry. Since his win at the Phoenix he has not cracked the top 20, and has had two missed cuts. 

Make the Cut - Jose Luis Ballester. Keeping the Spanish theme going, the US amateur winner will make the cut. And will be the low amateur. 

Roughie - Sergio Garcia. I don’t know if this counts as a roughie pick, but I am backing the Spanish players this year.