Who is in Masters Form?
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 US Masters | Preview | 04 Apr 2011
With the strength of world golf perhaps more evenly balanced as it has been in the last decade, this week’s opening major championship of the year, The Masters, is shaping as a gripping contest.
Golfing analyst Bruce Young takes a look at several of the leading chances.
Martin Kaymer
Kaymer is not only a proven tournament winner but importantly now has a major championship to his name. If there is any concern about Kaymer’s chances, it is that he has yet to make a cut at the Masters in three attempts. On that basis I might be looking elsewhere but I do not dismiss his prospects. He has had the last two weeks off after a start to the year which was good enough to sweep him to the number one ranking in the game. The different preparation to previous years might also help.
Lee Westwood
Until recent years, apart from when 6th at his third attempt in 1999, Westwood has not really played all that well at Augusta National. In 2010 however all that changed when he finished runner-up to Mickelson. He is not in quite the same form at present but had a reasonable week in Houston and might improve.
Phil Mickelson
Enjoys one of the great modern day records at Augusta National. He has been a three time winner but it is also his amazing consistency in the event which stands out. He arrives as the defending champion and after a relatively slow start to the year he found his feet in Houston last week. He is primed for his 4th green jacket and will start as the favourite.
Luke Donald
Donald made a magnificent debut at Augusta National when third in 2005. Since then he has not gone close to repeating that performance. Donald has though been in sensational form in 2011. He has been outside the top ten only once in six starts this year and has already shown he has the game to do well over this layout.
Graeme McDowell
Does not enjoy a great record at Augusta although in his defence he has not played the event very often. He is now a proven major winner and one of the game’s elite and so that self belief might make a difference. His record at Augusta is a concern.
Tiger Woods
No-one can deny Woods unbelievable record at Augusta National. Intriguingly in his very first start as a professional in the event he won by twelve shots and although has gone on to win on three further occasions he has never gone close to repeating that emphatic victory. Since his last win in 2005 he has continued to perform well with five top six finishes. His 4th place in 2010 might go down as one of his best ever efforts in tournament golf given the circumstances. The problem for Woods is the current lack of consistency in his game. He might start as one of the favourites this week but he is still too inconsistent to be confident about his chances.
Paul Casey
Casey has played well to date in 2011 and his record at the Masters is solid enough with four top twenties in six starts. He entered the event as one of the favourites and in great form last year and missed the cut but much better can be expected from him this year. Like Donald, Casey’s best in the event was when on debut when he finished 6th in 2004.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has played this event just twice finishing 20th in 2009 and missing the cut last year. He has recorded top ten finishes in the other three major championships however and having gained the all important knowledge of Augusta National he is much better placed this year. He has played well in 2011 including a last start 10th at Doral.
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar is playing this event for just the 5th occasion, 13 years after first playing as an amateur in 1998. That year he finished 21st which was a brilliant effort and has not bettered that in three further starts. He has developed into one of the game’s leading players over the past twelve months however and appears to be a good prospect. His top ten last week in Houston does not hurt his chances.
Steve Stricker
Stricker started the season well enough with two good tournaments in Hawaii but while it has not been bad since it has not been great. He has missed as many cuts as he has made at Augusta National but a 6th place finish two years ago suggested he might be coming to terms with the great layout. I can’t get excited about his winning chances but could work his way into the top ten. He finished off last week’s Houston Open well.
Jim Furyk
Furyk has missed only two cuts in 14 starts at the Masters and while not exactly setting the world on first at present has done enough in 2011 to have some hopes of a good finish.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson has played the Masters twice and importantly from a learning curve viewpoint he has made the cut on both occasions. He has been in a genuine position to win two majors in the last eight months and while this golf course might not necessarily suit him to the same extent as others, he might surprise. He has been a little inconsistent this season but his recent runner-up finish at Doral suggests he is ready for a good week.
Ernie Els
Els has been only average by his standards this season but does enjoy a good Masters record having twice finished runner-up. He has not done so well in recent years and frankly if he contends it would surprise me.
Nick Watney
Watney appears to have the game for Augusta National and his early record in the event backs up that claim. He has not been outside the top twenty in three visits to the Masters and is a much more credentialed player now than was the case then. He is in the middle of a rich vein of form and is a good chance.
Francesco Molinari
Molinari has developed into one of the game’s elite players in the last twelve months. In his only start in this tournament in 2010 he made the cut but with a World Golf Championship win and numerous top tens since he is a genuine chance to go a lot better in his second appearance. There is concern however regarding the disappointing manner in which he finished off last week’s Houston Open.
Ian Poulter
Poulter has played Augusta quite well in the past, making every one of his six cuts to date. He has played solidly enough so far in 2011 without doing anything spectacular. He has a chance for a top ten finish but can’t see him winning.
Hunter Mahan
Mahan has put together two very good finishes in this event in the past two years finishing 10th in 2009 and 8th last year. Mahan won against elite company at the WGC Bridgestone last year and has continued to play consistently since, not missing a cut and picking up top tens on a regular basis including last week at the Houston Open.
Justin Rose
Rose is close to a big Masters tournament. He has played this event on five occasions and has made the cut in each with a best of 5th in 2007. He proved he is close to absolute world class with his victory at the Memorial last year and in recent weeks has put together several good tournaments. He is a very good longer shot chance.
Bubba Watson
Watson has made the cut in each of his two times to Augusta and is certainly a better player now than was the case in each of those two appearances. Augusta National seems to suit left-handers and he might just do well. He was a beaten semi finalist recently at the Accenture and of course won at Torrey Pines.
K.J. Choi
Choi might not be everyone’s idea of a chance this year but a closer look at the facts perhaps tells a different story. Choi has found some good form of late including a 6th place at Bay Hill and a 7th place finish at Riviera. He has made six of eight cuts in the event including a 3rd place finish in 2004 and a 4th place last year.
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