Masters Predictions 2015: Projections for Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and More
It isn't easy to qualify for the Masters. The tournament's requirements include past major champions and other top finishers, amateur champions and the world's top 50 players. Needless to say, the end result is an elite field of golfers who will be aiming to navigate Augusta National in an effort to take home the coveted green jacket.
Of those players, several stand out due to intriguing underlying storylines.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is attempting to win his third consecutive major and complete the career Grand Slam, a feat only six other golfers—Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods—have ever accomplished. That's some pretty good company.
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Speaking of Woods, he's out to prove his career isn't over. Due to injuries and swing changes, he hasn't even recorded a top-10 finish since 2013. Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson is also aiming to right the ship. He's been dealing with issues of his own and has struggled mightily since his runner-up finish in the 2014 PGA Championship.
So, here's the burning question as the year's first major rapidly approaches: How are these players likely to fare? Let's speculate.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has been on fire since winning the 2014 Open Championship, a victory that helped propel him to the world's top spot. Since then, he's won three more times, including the PGA Championship, and finished as a runner-up four times. He's riding a nice wave of momentum into the Masters, and he'll need it.
Augusta National hasn't been kind of McIlroy in the past. He fared well there through 54 holes back in 2011; however, he blew a four-stroke lead on the final day, and his epic collapse resulted in an 80. Last year, McIlroy recorded his best finish in the event with a tie for eighth, but a 77 in Round 2 didn't help his cause. He must refrain from putting up similar big numbers if he's to finally claim the title.
After all, McIlroy fully knows what's at stake this year, and he shared his thoughts during a press conference, via ESPN.com:
"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.
"
McIlroy is a big hitter, but accuracy is far more important at Augusta National. In his limited PGA Tour appearances this season, the Norther Irishman's diving accuracy sits at 60 percent, just below the tour median, according to PGATour.com. He'll make up for the difference with his continued solid iron play, as he's also hitting 67.22 percent of greens in regulation.
His ability to find greens with his approach shots will go a long way at Augusta National, as he'll avoid treacherous hazards such as Rae's Creek. With rain in the forecast, the greens will also be soft enough to hold shots and keep scoring low. Don't expect any big numbers from the world No. 1 this year.
Tournament prediction: McIlroy shoots eight under; finishes tied for third.
Phil Mickelson
As the owner of three green jackets, Lefty is no stranger to success at Augusta National. However, his last win in the prestigious tournament came in 2010, and his form has declined since.
Mickelson enters the Masters ranked 22nd in the world after dropping in the standings due to lingering health issues that hurt his form. After his runner-up finish in the 2014 PGA Championship—his lone top-10 finish on the PGA Tour last year—Mickelson was withdrawn from one event, missed two cuts and failed to finish better than a tie for 17th.
He did start well in the Shell Houston Open, scoring a 66 and 67 in the first two rounds, respectively; however, he followed that up with a 75 in Round 3 and closed out the tournament with a 71. That's not a good omen heading into the Masters, but Lefty still remains confident. Here's what he had to say during a press conference, via Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post:
"You've got to take baby steps. The first step for me was getting my aggressive style back, getting my focus back to make birdies, and that mental intensity that's needed to be able to get at pins...and make birdies.
Now that I've got the aggressive play back, I can manage it a little bit better.
"
Mickelson's aggressive play has won him tournaments in the past, but it's also led to foolish mistakes. Due to his recent inconsistent play, it's easy to expect more of the latter at Augusta National. While his experience at the course should help him make the cut, not much more should be expected.
Tournament prediction: Mickelson shoots three over; finishes tied for 31st.
Tiger Woods
Woods enters the Masters ranked No. 111 in the world—his lowest ranking since 1995. Due to health issues and swing alterations, he's been a non-factor in every tournament he's entered since 2013. In fact, over Woods' previous nine appearances, he's withdrawn three times, missed three cuts and fared no better than a tie for 17th.
While the technical issues with his swing are certainly troublesome, Woods faces a bigger problem this week at Augusta National—the yips.
His chipping woes have been wildly apparent in the last two tournaments he's entered, as Woods shocked onlookers with a swing glitch that resulted in extremely inaccurate shots. He spoke of his attempt to rectify the issue during a press conference, via Bob Harig of ESPN.com:
"It was a slow and steady progression each and every day. We worked on it each and every day, just taking little bits of it, just improve each and every day. When the sun came up, by the time the sun set, I should be a better player than I was in the morning, and that was the case. This was our whole focus was just to get better incrementally. We don't need to make big, giant leaps or anything like that, but just incrementally get better.
"
Whether that issue has been completely cleared up has yet to be seen. Although, with so many uncertainties surrounding Woods' game, and a vastly difficult test at Augusta Nationals forthcoming, things don't exactly look favorable for a triumphant return.
Tournament prediction: Woods misses cut.
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