Masters Favorites 2015: Projecting Daily Score Totals for Golf's Top Stars
The first major golf championship of the year will see the sport’s biggest names tackle the iconic Augusta National golf course with a coveted green jacket at stake for the winner of the Masters.
There are a variety of golfers in with a fair chance to stride down Magnolia Lane donning the most famous fashion accessory in sport, too.
Rory McIlroy is chasing a remarkable career Grand Slam, Phil Mickelson is looking to secure his fourth Masters win and Bubba Watson is after a third victory in four years. Even Tiger Woods—something of an unknown quantity coming into the week—will be hoping to rekindle some of his very best form with a strong display at a venue he's conquered on four previous occasions.
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Let’s look back at how this quartet of stars have done in years gone by and how their Augusta pedigrees will see them fare in their quests for glory in 2015.
| Rory McIlroy | 6/1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8/1 |
| Bubba Watson | 11/1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 14/1 |
| Jason Day | 14/1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 20/1 |
| Adam Scott | 22/1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 22/1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 22/1 |
| Patrick Reed | 28/1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 28/1 |
| Tiger Woods | 28/1 |
Full odds listings available at OddsShark.com. Odds accurate as of 8:30 a.m. (BST), April 8.
Rory McIlroy
| Thursday | 68 |
| Friday | 71 |
| Saturday | 68 |
| Sunday | 67 |
History is there to be seized for the Northern Irishman and there is enormous expectation accompanying him this week as he looks to win his fifth major title. But considering his best-ever finish of eighth in this event previously, Augusta is not a venue at which the world No. 1 has typically flourished.
Indeed, McIlroy himself admitted it’s a course that used to intimidate him, per Randall Mell of the Golf Channel:
"It’s such an intimidating place the first time that you get here, and I felt like I may have shown it a little bit too much respect at times, instead of playing my normal game, and playing the way I usually do.
That's the biggest thing I've learned, just try and get it out of your head where you are, and what it means, and just try to execute your shots like you normally do.
"
McIlroy has matured a remarkable amount over the past 12 months, and while the mantle of being the world’s best player seemed to weigh on his shoulders in previous years, now it’s a tag that galvanises him. As such, expect a strong start from Rory and for him to settle down into a rhythm over the weekend.
Encouragingly for Rory fans, he's revealed that he's feeling pretty relaxed ahead of the event:
Second-round scorers have typically been a minor chink in his armour, and a 77 in the second round last year here suggests he’s not quite fully over that minor flaw. But expect the four-time Major winner to take on this golf course and seize history at Augusta with an immaculate performance.
Phil Mickelson
| Thursday | 73 |
| Friday | 71 |
| Saturday | 71 |
| Sunday | 69 |
The man known as “Lefty” is a thoroughbred star when it comes to Augusta and knows exactly what’s needed to take victory at this iconic venue. Mickelson won this championship in 2004, 2006 and 2010, making him one of the most decorated Masters golfers in history.
Five years on from his last triumph, does he have the game to triumph yet again?
It's certainly questionable; after all, his last professional title was the 2013 Open Championship, and while he’s been in contention for major titles since then, Mickelson's play has typically lacked the conviction it once bristled with in order to make that final step.
But if Mickelson is going to spark into life, Augusta is a likely venue. As we can see here courtesy of the KPMG Mickelson Twitter account, Lefty is an expert at putting himself in contention for the title:
While he has major pedigree and can light up any golf course with his stunning play, Mickelson remains a little rough around the edges coming into the weekend and could subsequently struggle to get off to a strong start. He'll get better as the tournament rolls on but will fall short in his quest to add to his three green jackets.
Bubba Watson
| Thursday | 70 |
| Friday | 71 |
| Saturday | 70 |
| Sunday | 67 |
The two-time Masters champion will be hoping to make it three wins in four years at Augusta, and you’d be foolish to bet against Bubba, such is his quality when it comes to tackling the bespoke layout of this golf course.
He spoke with Bleacher Report Uninterrupted about how important the Masters titles have been in his career:
Augusta is perfectly tailored for Watson’s game. Like Mickelson, the two-time champion is also a big driver off the tee. And being left-handed, the shape of his shots is a natural fit for the course; his fundamental traits give Watson a big advantage.
Plus, anyone who can pull off shots under pressure like this iconic effort from 2012 is always going to be in with a chance of victory:
In both of his triumphs at Augusta so far, Watson has rallied on the final day to take victory. In his maiden win he rattled off four consecutive birdies on the back nine before the shot above thrust him to the top of the leaderboard, while last year he shot 69 in the final round to reel in overnight leader Jordan Spieth.
Expect Bubba’s week to follow a similar pattern, and while he will go close on Sunday, McIlroy will have just enough to hold off his charge.
Tiger Woods
| Thursday | 72 |
| Friday | 71 |
| Saturday | 74 |
| Sunday | 71 |
After much speculation, the American confirmed he’d be playing at Augusta this week, but as noted by SportsCenter, it’s been a long time since the 14-time major champion has been at his very best:
Nevertheless, Woods has won at Augusta four times in his distinguished career and will be one of the most experienced men out on the course this week. The 39-year-old was in boisterous mood ahead of the tournament, too, per BBC Sport:
"People would never understand how much work I put into it to come back and do this again, it was sun up to sun down.
Competing is still the same. I'm trying to beat everybody out there. That hasn't changed.
I want another green jacket. I've got four Green Jackets, I want five.
"
It’d be a remarkable story to see Woods at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday evening, but at the moment it’s tough to see him mixing it with the very top guys in the field. As such, expect a solid but unspectacular week from the four-time Masters champion.
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