Masters 2015: Latest News and Predictions Heading into Augusta
The Masters, the year's first major tournament, boasts an extremely talented field due to its difficult qualifying conditions. Only the cream of the crop is able to set foot onto Augusta National in search of the coveted green jacket, and the players will all be heavily tested.
Augusta boasts 7,435 yards of thick rough, elevation changes, well-placed hazards and mystifying greens. Even the world's best golfers often struggle when attempting to navigate the treacherous Amen Corner—a stretch of shots played from the 11th through the 13th holes—as Rae's Creek awaits to engulf any errant ball.
As we anxiously await this year's tournament to kick off, let's take a look at what's being said about some of the top participating players and predict how they are likely to fare.
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Bubba Watson
The world's No. 3 golfer and defending Masters champion Bubba Watson will be aiming to take home his third green jacket in four years. Augusta National appears to suit the lefty's game nicely, and he continues to perform well in the Masters as a result.
Watson has only played in four tournaments so far this year; however, he did record three top-10 finishes, and he's coming off a third-place showing in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. While that bit of a layoff may be concerning for some, keep in mind Watson withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2014 after finishing tied for second in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and went on to win at Augusta.
During an interview with Steve DiMeglio of USA Today, Watson spoke of his recent absence from the tour in his typical comedic fashion: "I've played. I just haven't played in competition. But when I'm playing for a burrito or a Smoothie I'm mad if I lose. I feel good. Last year I took off two weeks before the tournament and did pretty good."
Always a threat at Augusta, Watson's ability to hit the long ball while remaining accurate makes him one of the tournament's favorites. Factor in his prowess on the green, and there's reason to believe he'll pull out yet another Masters victory.
This tournament is extremely difficult to win in consecutive years, and while Watson should be expected to be in the mix come Sunday, there are hotter players who seem poised to finish atop the leaderboard.
Prediction: Watson finishes T3
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods isn't a favorite at Augusta this year, and with good reason. Ranked No. 111 in the world heading into the Masters, Woods sits at his lowest spot since 1995. His battle with a back injury, constant swing changes and yips around the green are all factors for his plummeting ranking.
Woods has entered two tournaments so far in 2015—he didn't finish either. The former world No. 1 missed the cut in the Phoenix Open and went on to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open. He hasn't played competitively since, as he continues to regain his form.
While working on his swing is one thing, there's another aspect of Woods' game that is more mental than anything. That's right, it's the dreaded yips. The yips come from a swing flaw, but that flaw is generated from a golfer's mentality and confidence. Woods must have very little at this point, and Hank Haney—his former coach—wrote in Golf Digest what this trip to Augusta may do to Woods' game:
"There's no reason for Tiger to play more events until his back is healthy and he has a manageable plan to play around this short-game issue. Confidence is such a big part of the game. If he goes to Augusta and chips the way he has, he's only going to produce more mental scar tissue. It's just not worth the risk.
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It's difficult to disagree with Haney here. Woods isn't returning to action in a run-of-the-mill tournament. This is the Masters, an event where the most skilled players tend to struggle around the greens. Don't expect Woods to recreate any of the magic we've seen from him at Augusta in the past.
Prediction: Woods misses cut
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy, the current world No. 1, enters the Masters looking to complete the career Grand Slam. Having won the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship, the Masters remains the lone major in which McIlroy has yet to triumph.
The Northern Irishman has been playing extremely well of late, ending his 2014 with a flurry of victories and beginning his 2015 campaign with another in Dubai. Perhaps his sponsor Nike is expecting big things from the 25-year-old at Augusta this year, as the company recently released this video that depicts the passing of the torch from Woods to McIlroy:
Now, McIlroy aims to have his name placed in the record books alongside Woods. During a press conference, via ESPN.com, he shared his thoughts on what's at stake in this year's Masters:
"What's at stake? A place in history. I think it's the big thing for me. Six other golfers have won a career Grand Slam. To join that list, you're getting up there with the pinnacle of what you can achieve in sport.
To write your name in the history books like that is what's at stake. That's what will be at stake in future years at Augusta if I don't win it this year, but the sooner I get it out of the way, the better.
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While McIlroy hasn't done better than his tie for eighth in 2014 at Augusta, he's been in the driver's seat before, as he entered the final round of the 2011 Masters with a four-shot lead only to fizzle down the stretch. We'll see McIlroy near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday, but another close call appears forthcoming for this top player.
Prediction: McIlroy finishes T5
Jordan Spieth
McIlroy is the odds-on favorite to take the green jacket this season, but if there's one member of the field who could also garner that title, it's Jordan Spieth. The 21-year-old phenom is on fire right now and should be extremely confident entering the Masters.
According to Odds Shark, Spieth is Vegas' second favorite to win this year's tournament, behind only McIlroy. Although, considering his two late wins in 2014, his win in the Valspar Championship and two consecutive runner-up finishes thereafter, Spieth's current momentum makes him the hottest player in the field.
The world No. 4 is coming off a tie for second in the Shell Houston Open—he missed the cut in that same event last year before going on to finish tied for second in the Masters. With fond memories of Augusta in mind, and while playing the best golf of his young career, Spieth appears poised to win his first major.
If Spieth does claim the green jacket this year, he'll become the second-youngest Masters winner in history, as Woods was just five months the junior when he won the tournament back in 1997. Expect that to be the case when the dust settles on Sunday.
Prediction: Spieth wins
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