The excitement is overflowing here at GolfOnline as we look ahead to Thursday’s tee off at Augusta National Golf Club. With the first major of the season about to get underway, here’s a look at our Team’s top picks to win The Masters 2015.
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Dustin Johnson
DJ’s back and proving a six-month leave of absence did little to hamper his golf game. In fact, the new father has returned to the PGA scene with a renewed focus that’s obvious from the impressive stats over his last six tournaments.
Johnson might have missed his first cut back at February’s Farmer’s Insurance Open, but the 30-year-old was quick to rebound. Racking up four-top-6 finishes including his incredible win at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March as well as finishing second at the Northern Trust Open. While Johnson has yet to claim major success, Augusta National is a golf course more than suited to the TaylorMade player’s game and he’s coming in pumped and ready for the challenge.
“It’s going really well. I need to do some work with the putter and short game, but I feel like the swing is really good, and at Augusta, you’ve really got to hit quality iron shots, control your ball, control the distance,” Johnson told reporters recently.
“I like tough golf courses. So going into Augusta, it’s just another tough course, and I feel like my game is definitely suited for there. It’s always fit my eye really well. Just haven’t played it that great. But this year, I’m looking forward to it. I feel comfortable and I love it.”
Rory McIlroy
How could the world’s number one golfer not be on our hot picks list? Rory McIlroy is golf’s current golden boy and looking to conquer his first Green Jacket in 2015. A win at Augusta on Sunday would complete the 25-year-old’s grand slam of majors and tie him with Tiger Woods as the youngest golfer to do so.
A win for McIlroy would also be an impressive feat for Europe, making him the first European to win the event since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999. But the Nike player’s history with Augusta proves it will be no easy task. With golf legend Colin Montgomerie admitting it will be difficult for McIlroy to move on from the memories of his incredible demise on the final day at The Masters in 2011.
“I don’t think the task is easy at all. I think there’s a lot of pressure on Rory McIlroy to be honest,” said Montgomerie. “He wants to make amends [for 2011]. And if you look at his results at Augusta they haven’t been obviously what they are in the other three majors, having won them all. So it is a little bit of pressure.”
Adding, “Let’s hope that this year Rory can contend and can keep contending through Sunday afternoon. It’s one of the most awaited Masters for a long, long time to see what’s going to happen.”
Bubba Watson
Heading into Augusta as the defending champ presents its own pressures. But two-time Masters victor Bubba Watson feels more than up to the challenge this time around and is looking forward to trying his hand at a third Green Jacket.
After winning his maiden major here in 2012, Watson admitted the difficulties he faced in coming back the following year, when he only managed to place 50th.
“In 2013 I was a newcomer. I was still trying to find my feet. I was still trying to figure out, somehow, I’m Masters champion,” Watson said. “Media attention is different because you’re defending champ. It’s just a lot of things went on and I’m not making that as an excuse in my bad play, but I still made the cut.”
2014 was a whole different ball game for the 36-year-old whose incredible long game led to his second Green Jacket, 3-strokes ahead of first-timer Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt.
This year Watson feels quite a bit different coming back than he did in 2013.
“I know my routine, I know what I want to do and I know what I need to do,” he said. “And now I know what the Champions Dinner is all about and now I know what the head of the table feels like.”
Come Sunday Watson will also be hoping he knows what it feels like to earn his third Masters victory.
Jordan Spieth
In his first appearance at The Masters last year, Jordan Spieth very nearly won the major. At just 20 years of age in 2014 he would have been the youngest-ever victor.
Alas, it wasn’t Spieth’s year, and he lost out on his first Green Jacket by three-strokes to Bubba Watson but the young golfer’s hard work and determination on the course has been more than evident in the last twelve months. With the 21-year-old winning his second PGA title just last month at the Valspar Championship.
Currently sitting at number four in the world rankings, Spieth is definitely one to watch this week at Augusta!
Adam Scott
As the 2013 champion, Adam Scott is familiar with what it takes to win at Augusta and the Australian feels confident he can do it again.
Following the birth of his first daughter less than two months ago, Scott might not have as many 2015 rounds under his belt as some of his competitors but that doesn’t mean he won’t be in contention come Sunday.
The 34-year-old believes his maiden victory at The Masters two years ago still gives him an edge over others in the field. An edge he is more than willing to exploit.
“Guys have won it a couple of times quite close together because I think you do develop a real knack for playing Augusta. Winning that first time really helps,” Scott told Australia’s THE COURIER-MAIL. “You know you can win around there and not everyone goes in with that.”
Another trick up the Titleist player’s sleeve…he’s switching back to the anchored putter he used during his last Masters victory. After three events using and struggling with the Odyssey White Ice Core #7, Scott announced last week he would be going back to his Scotty Cameron Futura X long putter for Augusta.
Referring to the switch Scott told reporters, “It just seemed like the sensible thing to do. I’m not here to just see what happens, I’m here to get the job done. The odds are more in my favour with the longer putter, considering I’ve used it over the last four years.”
With the anchored putter ban set to take effect in 2016 this will be the golfer’s last chance to use his trusted friend on the greens at Augusta. A place it’s already proven its worth.
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