The Masters 2015: Top Odds, Predictions and Storylines for Thursday's Action
Finally! That's exactly what every golf fan is thinking on Thursday morning with the Masters finally here.
The first major of the season is always the most illustrious with the site always the same. Augusta National and its elegant greens will play host to the 2015 Masters with every competitor chasing that elusive green jacket.
Will Rory McIlroy clinch his first Masters win? Can Bubba Watson repeat? Is Tiger Woods destined for another disappointing major? Before the tournament gets underway, here's a look at all of that and more.
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Odds
| 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 |
| Patrick Reed | 28-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 28-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 28-1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 33-1 |
| Justin Rose | 33-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 33-1 |
Storylines to Watch
Can McIlroy Win His First Green Jacket?
Young but experienced. Flawed but phenomenal. Four-time major champion but incomplete trophy case.
These are all ways to describe McIlroy, who at just 25 years old has taken the sport by storm. His game isn't as well-manicured as that of a young Woods, but when he's on, McIlroy is nearly unbeatable. However, his game hasn't been perfect at the Masters—yet.
Part of that is nerves, as McIlroy explained earlier this week, via Tom Fordyce of BBC Sport:
"Mentally, I feel like I'm in a far better place on the golf course, and able to handle adversity whenever it might come my way out there.
I think the first tee shot here is probably the only first tee shot of a tournament these days that I still get nervous at, the one that you get butterflies and your heart races a little bit faster than it does usually.
You've just got to realise that there are holes out here that par is a good score and you move on. You try and pick off your birdies when you can.
"
Augusta National is majestic enough to give even the best golfers butterflies when they step on the course. How McIlroy handles those nerves this time around will determine whether or not he's in the running on Sunday.
Already a four-time major champion, the Northern Irish golfer needs a Masters title to clinch a career Grand Slam. After finishing a career-best eighth in last year's Masters, a strong start on Thursday from McIlroy would go a long way toward finally donning that green jacket.
How Will Tiger Woods Fare in His Return to Augusta?
It's the question everyone in the golf community is asking: Which version of Woods will we see at Augusta?
The 14-time major winner has looked far removed from his dominant self over the last several years. Even in 2013 when he last won the PGA Player of the Year, Woods was unable to win a single major to inch closer to Jack Nicklaus' 18 titles.
Entering this year's Masters, Woods is facing his longest odds as a professional, via R.J. Bell of Pregame.com:
So, will Woods finally reclaim his old form at Augusta? Or will fans be fooled again by his return to the links? Regardless, the golf world will be watching to see how he fares in a tournament he used to dominate.
Predictions
Look for McIlroy to maintain a high position on the leaderboard throughout the weekend, but it will be Watson and Jordan Spieth battling at the end.
Watson's game is perfect for Augusta. With his powerful driving skills and clutch shooting down the stretch, the left-handed golfer will be a factor again.
If any player is able to apply pressure on Watson, it will be Spieth. The young golfer is playing flawless golf to start the season and already has six top-10 finishes in eight tournaments. Coming off a win at the Valspar Championship and two straight top-two results at the Texas Open and Houston Open, Spieth will be the man to beat in Georgia.
Predicted Winner: Jordan Spieth
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