Early picks for the Masters winner

[GolfNut57]

Is it too early for this? Oh well.........

I am sure that Justin Thomas will get the nod from several and I agree that he is a worthy pick. But I am thinking we just might see Hideki Matsuyama or Brooks Koepka be the one donning the green jacket this year. What say ye? 

[Boarcephus]

Is it too early for this? Oh well.........

I am sure that Justin Thomas will get the nod from several and I agree that he is a worthy pick. But I am thinking we just might see Hideki Matsuyama or Brooks Koepka be the one donning the green jacket this year. What say ye? 

My money is on Jordan Spieth.  He's run away from the field the last couple years and if not for one inexplicable screwup he'd have won the last two. He seems to play that course and those greens as well as anyone ever has in recent memory.  Hard to go against DJ these days.

Doubt if he wins it because his putting is not much better than mine, or so it seems, but I'd like to see Rory win it. 

[ricepig]

Obvious, Tiger..... my backup is DJ.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Garrigus. 

[ricepig]

Garrigus. 

I think we're talking about guys that are eligible to play in the Masters.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I think we're talking about guys that are eligible to play in the Masters.

Doesn't matter.  He'll win it whether he's eligible or not. 

[GolfNut57]

Doesn't matter.  He'll win it whether he's eligible or not.

Garrigus may as well go fishing that week in April because the closest he will get to winning is being the Master "baiter". 

[EastexHawg]

Doubt if he wins it because his putting is not much better than mine, or so it seems, but I'd like to see Rory win it. 

I've said it a dozen times...Rory is the worst short putter I have ever seen for a truly great player.

He'll hang around well down the leaderboard for the first couple of days, then make a run on the weekend after he gets too far behind.  I would like to see him win it, too, but that's what I expect.

Mickelson is like Nicklaus.  He will contend at Augusta into his 50s.

[Boarcephus]

Mickelson is like Nicklaus.  He will contend at Augusta into his 50s.

Speaking of Phil, did you catch him on Feherty?  He's entertaining but so full of crap it's sickening. 

[zane]

Hard to go against Spieth at Augusta National

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Hard to go against Spieth at Augusta National

If he goes to no. 12 on Sunday with a lead and I'm his caddy, I think I hand him a driver.

[onebadrubi]

If he goes to no. 12 on Sunday with a lead and I'm his caddy, I think I hand him a driver.

I'd say 60 degree 60 degree make them 5-10 footer

[EastexHawg]

Speaking of Phil, did you catch him on Feherty?  He's entertaining but so full of crap it's sickening. 

I DVRed the first interview but haven't watched it yet although I caught a few minutes of it when it was replayed.  What did he say that was sickening?

[Boarcephus]

I DVRed the first interview but haven't watched it yet although I caught a few minutes of it when it was replayed.  What did he say that was sickening?

Just watch it and tell me what you think.  I like Phil.   He was interesting and entertaining but there were a couple things he said you just have to call BS on. 

[GoHogs1091]

The wind shouldn't be blowing at a gail force, which occurred last year, so the scoring should be better than last year.  Will the scoring be as good as it was in 2015?  Difficult to say, but it would depend on if it rains or not (rain would make the course play longer).  The course is on the verge of being taken over/succumbing to the out-of-control golf equipment technology that is being utilized at the PGA Tour level.

As far as specific individuals, Jordan Spieth is not playing well at the moment.  Unless he dramatically gets better soon, and unless the "demons" of the 12th Hole don't get to him, there is just too much uncertainty of him winning.

Dustin Johnson could get too aggressive on a hole/holes, for instance #3, #9 (which #9 needs to be the 18th Hole), #13, and #16, which could cost him.  Until he learns to not try to always over-power a course, then he may always have trouble winning there.

Hideki Matsuyama has been playing well, but he has a tendency to get too aggressive with his intermediate range putting.  That won't bode well particularly on the 6 Perry Maxwell greens there (Maxwell's green at #3, #4, #6 #7, #9, and #10   Maxwell did work on the green at #18, but the Club decided in 1946 to deface/vandalize Maxwell's work on #18 green).

Rory McIlroy is too inconsistent right now, which is probably a by-product of him not playing much tournament golf so far this season.

The following is who could do well/contend.

Phil Mickelson (provided he doesn't get too errant on his tee shots)
Bernhard Langer (at the moment, Langer really is the only one in world professional golf who has a high-level complete game)
Jimmy Walker
Thomas Pieters
Paul Casey
Vijay Singh
Louie Oosthuizen
Matthew Fitzpatrick

[GolfNut57]

The following is who could do well/contend.
Phil Mickelson (provided he doesn't get too errant on his tee shots)
Bernhard Langer (at the moment, Langer really is the only one in world professional golf who has a high-level complete game)
Jimmy Walker
Thomas Pieters
Paul Casey
Vijay Singh
Louie Oosthuizen
Matthew Fitzpatrick

Other than Phil I will bet none of those will be in contention Sunday afternoon.

[Boarcephus]

Other than Phil I will bet none of those will be in contention Sunday afternoon.

Yep. 

[onebadrubi]

Other than Phil I will bet none of those will be in contention Sunday afternoon.

Louie might, LANGER DEFINITELY won't.  Haha I can't believe he spews this every year

[Iwastherein1969]

................in a titanic playoff with Dustin Johnson, Rory's draw puts a wedge in his hand on # 10 as the bowed up Irishman blast a towering drive which carries 375 yards down the left side of the fairway to within about 20 paces from the fairway bunker, DJ, 30 yards back hits a hard 9 iron within 18 feet to the left of the pin.... and then Rory proceeds to feather a slider of a wedge in there stoned cold dead, 4 inches from the pin, while DJ has a 15 footer for birdie which lips out...Rory taps in....THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING !

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I'm not going to pick John Rahm this year, but I will go out on a limb and say he wins at Augusta in his career, barring injury.  He needs experience and I believe this will be his first Masters, but he has the game for it for sure.

This year, I think I'll go with Justin Rose.

[Hawgndaaz]

picked up phil at 30-1 this weekend.

and his feherty episode made me like him more, not less. dude is funny and seemed pretty real.

[East TN HAWG]

picked up phil at 30-1 this weekend.

and his feherty episode made me like him more, not less. dude is funny and seemed pretty real.

My brother-in-law first met Phil at the practice range before the Scottish Open when Ollie was an amateur.  Ever since that time, Phil has called them by name.  I think its impressive that he remembers the caddies by name with the golfer. 

The last day of that Scottish Open.  Ollie had a lower score, so Phil finished up before Ollie.  Somehow Phil was driving a golf cart.  During the tournament, he drives across the fairway to tell them good bye, and that he would see them at St Andrews (The Open).   Phil is just a great guy. 

[Boarcephus]

Until someone proves they can flat out beat Jordan at Augusta, I'm going with him. 

[ricepig]

Where's the early favorite for the Shell Houston Open thread? I'll go with DJ, if he sticks with his plans to play in it. Consequently, if he does, I'll remove him from my choice at Augusta, and go with Day.

[Boarcephus]

I'll remove him from my choice at Augusta, and go with Day.

Day led the PGA in putting last year but ranks 202 this year, just behind Rory at 196.  For whatever reason, and I'm sure Day has a list of them, he's not playing that well this year. 

[ricepig]

Day led the PGA in putting last year but ranks 202 this year, just behind Rory at 196.  For whatever reason, and I'm sure Day has a list of them, he's not playing that well this year. 

Yep, good as week as any to start making some......

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Where's the early favorite for the Shell Houston Open thread? I'll go with DJ, if he sticks with his plans to play in it. Consequently, if he does, I'll remove him from my choice at Augusta, and go with Day.

DJ WD'ed.  FYI. 


LOL.

[ricepig]

DJ WD'ed.  FYI. 


LOL.

Good, then DJ for the Master's is my pick.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Good, then DJ for the Master's is my pick.

Just keep the hookers and blow away from him for a couple more weeks and you may be onto something.

[onebadrubi]

I don't think day's head will be in it.

[ricepig]

Just keep the hookers and blow away from him for a couple more weeks and you may be onto something.

I think Paulina is the mother to his children.........

[Boarcephus]

Although it is unlikely to happen, how cool would it be for Rory to win the Masters and Phil win the U.S. Open and have two career grand slams completed in back to back majors?

I could go for that. 

[clutch]

Louie might, LANGER DEFINITELY won't.  Haha I can't believe he spews this every year

That's what I was about to say. Louie usually plays well at Augusta.

[GoHogs1091]

Louie might, LANGER DEFINITELY won't.  Haha I can't believe he spews this every year

Langer was on the 1st page of the leader board the first part of the final round last year.

He has more course knowledge than anyone else who will be playing.  Langer knows where you can miss and can't miss a shot(s) at ANGC.

It is predominately a 2nd shot golf course.  Langer's iron game is elite level.

[Iwastherein1969]

I like Bernhard, but he can no longer hit the ball high enough to really compete with the youngun's for four days...Also, I'm not sure Bernhard draws the ball nearly as well as he did when he was young and if you cannot hit a high draw at Augusta National, its very difficult to win. The only man who hits a high cut almost exclusively which has won the Masters twice is Bubba Watson. The kicker is that Bubba is a lefty which makes his high cut a high draw for a righty. Just ask the Merry Mex. He could hit a draw but not nearly high enough. I can't remember the quote, but I think Lee was hinting about burning the pride of Bobby Jones down to the dirt at one time during the middle 70's.

[ErieHog]

I think that JS has to be the favorite, but in terms of someone mentioned, Rory is a solid pick.

He's been taking some time off, and apparently working on his short game;  he wasn't playing bad before, but perhaps the new approach at Augusta will help.

[Boarcephus]

I think that JS has to be the favorite, but in terms of someone mentioned, Rory is a solid pick.

He's been taking some time off, and apparently working on his short game;  he wasn't playing bad before, but perhaps the new approach at Augusta will help.

Rory has only played 4 events this year with 3 top 10's and leads the PGA in scoring average and driving.  He was hurt earlier in the year but seems good to go now.  If he putts well, he wins. 

[cc]

Jordan, Rory, DJ, Justin Rose are all solid picks.  Jason Day has the game just doesn't seem to have it right now.  Phil still has to be considered and Bubba loves the place.

[EastexHawg]

Tiger withdrew.  Shame.  I was looking forward to seeing him miss the cut or come down with another "injury" after an embarrassing first round.

I heard the question asked Friday whether a betting man should take the threesome of Dustin, Rory, and Spieth against the field.  They are three of my top five, along with Justin Rose and Phil, but I would take the field.

[majestic]

................in a titanic playoff with Dustin Johnson, Rory's draw puts a wedge in his hand on # 10 as the bowed up Irishman blast a towering drive which carries 375 yards down the left side of the fairway to within about 20 paces from the fairway bunker, DJ, 30 yards back hits a hard 9 iron within 18 feet to the left of the pin.... and then Rory proceeds to feather a slider of a wedge in there stoned cold dead, 4 inches from the pin, while DJ has a 15 footer for birdie which lips out...Rory taps in....THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING !

Damn that was gay. NTTIAWWT.

[onebadrubi]

Langer was on the 1st page of the leader board the first part of the final round last year.

He has more course knowledge than anyone else who will be playing.  Langer knows where you can miss and can't miss a shot(s) at ANGC.

It is predominately a 2nd shot golf course.  Langer's iron game is elite level.

He won't be around the leaderboard come amen corner on Sunday.  He's too old and use to 3 day events from the next tee box up.  The fact that you actually think he's a contender as he gets older is laughable, but so are many of your post. 

[GoHogs1091]

He won't be around the leaderboard come amen corner on Sunday.  He's too old and use to 3 day events from the next tee box up.  The fact that you actually think he's a contender as he gets older is laughable, but so are many of your post. 

Langer is coming in to this week on good form.

He shot a smooth 66 (-6) on Saturday and a smooth 67 (-5) on Sunday at Fallen Oak (Par 72) in Mississippi.  Fallen Oak is regarded as being the best course in Mississippi.

Langer has something around a 35 consecutive rounds under Par streak going.

[oldman1015]

Langer is coming in to this week on good form.

He shot a smooth 66 (-6) on Saturday and a smooth 67 (-5) on Sunday at Fallen Oak (Par 72) in Mississippi.  Fallen Oak is regarded as being the best course in Mississippi.

Langer has something around a 35 consecutive rounds under Par streak going.

And this week he will be playing from the men's tee. Your man crush oh him is something.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

If Langer were to be in contention late on Sunday, would it be as big a story as Watson at Turnberry in 2009?

Contention, no.  Leading or tied coming to the 18th tee on Sunday?  Yes.

[Iwastherein1969]

Damn that was gay. NTTIAWWT.

you are Herpes, you seem to show up at the wrong time and in all the wrong places...do me a favor and dry up...but seriously, you have no rooting interest since the cablinasian is barely a passing thought and will never contend again, watching golf  has to be hard to do for you...you can always head on over to You Tube and watch the 1997 Masters and spank hank all afternoon on Sunday....I'd suggest some oil of olay lotion since your technique only requires your right forefinger and your thumb

[Boarcephus]

I was watching the Golf Channel yesterday and saw where Adam Scott has Steve Williams back on his bag.  Thought Williams retired and have to wonder what his regular caddy thinks about it? 

Watched what I could of DJ's PC.   To borrow a quote from Danny Ford, "he ain't no scientific rocket". 

[majestic]

you are Herpes, you seem to show up at the wrong time and in all the wrong places...do me a favor and dry up...but seriously, you have no rooting interest since the cablinasian is barely a passing thought and will never contend again, watching golf  has to be hard to do for you...you can always head on over to You Tube and watch the 1997 Masters and spank hank all afternoon on Sunday....I'd suggest some oil of olay lotion since your technique only requires your right forefinger and your thumb

Hahaha! You are such a pathetic loser. Don't ever change

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I was watching the Golf Channel yesterday and saw where Adam Scott has Steve Williams back on his bag.  Thought Williams retired and have to wonder what his regular caddy thinks about it? 

Watched what I could of DJ's PC.   To borrow a quote from Danny Ford, "he ain't no scientific rocket".

Rick Reilly isn't a big fan of DJ's intelligence either.  A few years ago he wrote something to the effect of "the next time he reads a putt will be the first time he's read anything in his life."

[Boarcephus]

Rick Reilly isn't a big fan of DJ's intelligence either.  A few years ago he wrote something to the effect of "the next time he reads a putt will be the first time he's read anything in his life."

I remember that quote.  Funny as hell but that sucker does hit the golf ball a ton.  In a lot of ways he reminds me of Phelps.  Not exactly the sharpest guy around but blessed with immense talent.  Just point him in the right direction, have him buy into it then watch out.

One guy I never really was a big fan of on the course but like him on the Golf Channel is David Duvall.  He brings a pretty good insight to the show.  Also caught what Nota Begay said about Matsuyama playing with Rory and DJ. They were consistently 50 yards ahead of him off the tee and got into his head in a big way. 

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I remember that quote.  Funny as hell but that sucker does hit the golf ball a ton.  In a lot of ways he reminds me of Phelps.  Not exactly the sharpest guy around but blessed with immense talent.  Just point him in the right direction, have him buy into it then watch out.

One guy I never really was a big fan of on the course but like him on the Golf Channel is David Duvall.  He brings a pretty good insight to the show.  Also caught what Nota Begay said about Matsuyama playing with Rory and DJ. They were consistently 50 yards ahead of him off the tee and got into his head in a big way.

I think Duval is the best analyst they've got, and I wish they'd utilize him more than guys like Trip Isenhauer.  Duval's not scared to mix it up with Chamblee (who I don't like, but I understand why they use him).