One week to Masters Week. This time next week we all will be focused on Augusta National and The Masters. With the current level of play on the PGA Tour we are primed for another very special week.
Jason Day is now back at number one in the world fresh off his impressive back to back wins at Arnie’s Place and the Match Play. With his powerful drives and deft short game is there anyone who can compete with that?
Well, let’s not hand Jason his first green jacket just yet. Look this deep field of contenders who are all playing well heading into The Masters.
Just a few weeks before Day found his stride Adam Scott had completed his own set of back to back wins. Armed with a new putting technique and plenty of new found confidence the 2013 Masters winner is primed for his shot at a second green jacket.
Sandwiched between Scott’s and Day’s double dip was a solid win by the 2011 Masters Champ, Charl Schwartzel who also has a win this year on the European Tour. That has to give the South African plenty of confidence heading to Augusta.
Rory McIlroy has let it be known that winning The Masters is his number one priority. A win there will give him the career grand slam and further cement his place in golf history. He just finished fourth at the Match Play, done in by the buzz saw that is Jason Day but his game is peaking at the right time. On the European Tour since his win in Dubai last November he never finished lower than T6 in four starts and on the PGA Tour he was T27 at Arnie’s and T3 at The Cadillac Championship. He’s ready to contend again at Augusta.
Two time Masters winner Bubba Watson has a win this year on the PGA Tour and just finished second at The Cadillac Championship. Bubba’s game is extraordinarily suited for Augusta National as he can carve it through those pines and over those hills like few golfers can.
How about Louis Oosthuizen who just lost to Day for a second place finish at The Match Play and who has a win earlier this month on the European Tour? He’s swinging as smooth as ever and now has a putter to match his long game. Let’s not forget it was Oosthuizen that would have won a green jacket in 2012 if Bubba doesn’t hit that miracle hook from the woods in the playoff.
Phil Mickelson hasn’t won this year but he has had a solid early start to the season and is playing his best golf in years. He has three top tens in seven starts on the PGA Tour and leads the tour in scoring average at 69.008. Few golfers know Augusta National as well as Phil. Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods know those hills and greens as well as Phil and he’ll be a threat any time he tees it up at Augusta.
And what about last year’s record setting champion, Jordan Spieth. He started the season well with a win at the Tournament of Champions but his jet setting around the world for massive paychecks may have taken an early toll on the Golden Child. But he was solid for three rounds at the Match Play and he was number one in the world a few days ago. Let’s remember what this kid did last year as he won two majors and chased the grand slam. Spieth, like Jack and Tiger has an innate ability to focus on a goal and execute a predetermined plan. He’ll be in the mix again at Augusta.
There are many more likely contenders for the green jacket, just go down the world rankings to find a few. Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and plenty more golfers are bound to make this Masters, as Jim Nantz says “one for the ages.”
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