Masters Predictions 2015: Projecting Best and Worst Performances at Augusta
Every golfer arriving at Augusta National will step onto the confines ready to win the 2015 Masters, but hopes will be dashed for some soon after the start of play on Thursday.
From bad weather to the inevitable nerves of the spotlight to everything in between, so many aspects can get in the way of golfers starting strong in Augusta. It takes a perfect blueprint, along with on-point attempts and a few strokes of luck, to keep your name atop the leaderboard heading into the weekend.
It's inevitable that a handful of sleepers will emerge out of nowhere, but how do we figure out what to expect from some of the top names? Let's target a couple of players whose stock is up and down below.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Best: Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson has returned from a long absence and rediscovered some of the best golf of his career—just in time to vie for his first major championship.
The 30-year-old has four top-six finishes in five tournament appearances since February 12, including a victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and a sixth-place finish at the Texas Open before skipping the Houston Open. With a powerful game off the tee and impeccable accuracy in his short game when he's locked in, Johnson can rely on natural talent and experience alone to contend in Augusta.
He shared with Bob Gillespie of The State how he feels more ready than ever for a run at a major:
"I know how to get it done in a major. The only way to know how (to win) is to be in them enough times.
I'm in the best shape ever going into Augusta, golf-wise and everything else. The golf course is hard, and I think it's a place where the more you play it, the more comfortable you are, and the better you get at it.
In past years, I wasn't real confident, but right now I am. I'm controlling my ball well, and if I just putt well, I'll be there on Sunday.
"
Johnson doesn't have a finish better than 13th at Augusta, but it also marks the only major championship of the four that he's failed to finish in the top five in. With nine PGA Tour victories and a handful of years atop the sport, there are few more accomplished golfers without a major to their name.
Add Johnson's natural talent to his experience built over the last couple of years, sprinkle in the insane golf he's played of late and he feels like a sure thing to at least be near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
Worst: Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson has come out of nowhere and turned around immense on-course struggles to win majors before, but doing so this weekend at Augusta would be among his best feats ever.
The 44-year-old is in the midst of a rough start to the season, and that's putting it quite nicely. He doesn't have a single top-15 finish this season and has missed two cuts in seven tournaments, while his driving accuracy ranks 155th and greens-in-regulation percentage is currently 160th, according to PGATour.com.
Mickelson's short game has been his calling card in major tournaments, specifically at Augusta, where he's won three green jackets and showed more dominance over the speedy, unpredictable greens than arguably any other golfer of this generation.
But without enough confidence in that aspect of his game, it's hard to see him making the putts necessary to hang with the top of the leaderboard. Just as well, Mickelson's struggles to hit the fairway will leave him in Augusta's tricky rough.
Mickelson is an 18-1 favorite, according to Odds Shark, which isn't as lofty of a number when you consider his trio of green jackets and names like Jordan Spieth (8-1) trumping him.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
