SportsShorts: Scheffler, Smith set for rare Masters Sunday duel

When Scottie Scheffler arrived to Augusta National Monday for the 86th Masters Tournament, the individual driving him around the grounds on a golf cart referred to him as “Xander.”

Scheffler may have arrived as the newly-minted top-ranked player in the world — and is definitely not Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele — but isn’t a name or face easily recognized by non-golf fans.

Cameron Smith is not recognized any more than Scheffler, despite a distinct appearance — mullet, mustache and all — and nearly as hot a start to 2021.

But they’ll be a lot more well known after Sunday, and practically everyone will recognize the garment that one of them will most likely be wearing by dusk: the green jacket.

Scheffler leads Smith by three strokes entering the final round, with only one other player, Sungjae Im, closer than seven shots back.

This final pairing isn’t a bout of big names like Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm, off in the fifth pairing Sunday morning and not the last one on Sunday afternoon, or Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka, who may be spending their Sunday playing a hit-and-giggle in Jupiter. But what it lacks in name recognition for the general public, it makes up for in current form as the two hottest players in the world meet for the Masters title — an occurrence more rare than one might think.

Playing in the final pairing is important beyond this leaderboard’s separation, as 26 of the last 31 Masters champions were in that last two-ball. It’s been over two decades since the two hottest players comprised Sunday’s final pairing, and those principals were each iconic figures: in 2001, Woods was at the completion of the Tiger Slam, completing the undisputed best 12 months of golf ever played, and played with Mickelson, who had four top-three finishes in the lead-up to Augusta and was ranked second.

Sunday will be the first time in any major since 2015 that two top-10 players in the world rankings make up the final pairing of the final round, matching Jason Day and Jordan Spieth at the 2015 PGA Championship.

This year, Scheffler has risen from world No. 12 at the start of 2021 to the top ranking with three wins in his last five starts, starting with his first PGA Tour win just eight weeks ago; he beat strong fields in each event, at the WM Phoenix Open, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship. The last person to win three PGA Tour events in a season before the Masters then win in Augusta was Arnold Palmer in 1960.

Smith, the world’s sixth-ranked player, can join elite company of his own with a win, as the only player to win the Players Championship and the Masters in the same year was Tiger Woods in 2001. Smith also set the PGA Tour’s scoring record with a 34-under-par total at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. The three-shot deficit entering Sunday could be smaller than it sounds when the chaser leads the PGA Tour in birdies.

The result could very well be a memorable two-man duel — and one that, given each player’s broader capabilities, history may come to view as a battle between two stalwarts of the game.

So buckle up for Masters Sunday — always one of the best days in sports — as two of the world’s best battle it out for the coveted title.

When the day is done, the world will know who they are.

Column: Sunday a career-defining day for DJ

With a four-stroke lead after 54 holes in the 2020 Masters Tournament, Sunday will go one of two ways for Dustin Johnson.

If he wins, he will become a multiple-major winner, an important element to add on a resume that already has just about everything else, and may gain the confidence to go win more.

If he doesn’t, Sunday becomes the latest — and potentially most agonizing — in a series of major-championship heartbreaks.

Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the ninth hole during Saturday’s third round of the 84th Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. (Masters.com photo)

Simply put, Sunday is crucial in determining what direction Johnson’s legacy will take.

Johnson is playing, by his own admission, some of the best golf of his career. And while he clearly still has some time left in his prime, at age 36 he’s likely at least started the back nine of it — making Sunday’s result that much more important for him.

Now, he’s got a prime opportunity to win his first green jacket, 60 miles southwest of his childhood home in Lexington, South Carolina.

“It’s definitely still a long way to go, I’ve still got 18 more holes left, but it would mean a lot,” Johnson said. “What a great event; it’s the Masters, it’s a major, I grew up right down the road. So this one would be very special to me.”

The U.S. Open champion in 2016 at Oakmont, Johnson would join Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Angel Cabrera as players to win majors both at Oakmont and Augusta National. He would be the eighth player in the last 50 years with both a U.S. Open and Masters title.

No one has more PGA Tour wins than Johnson’s 23 since joined the circuit in 2008. With a win Sunday, he would join workout pal Brooks Koepka as the only players with multiple majors the last five years.

Those accolades would come from not just a strong week, but a great career. But his game right now is the best it may have ever been, evidenced by rounds of 7-under 65 in both the first and third rounds and a 16-under total that has the tournament 72-hole scoring record of 18-under 270 well within sight.

“I would say the game’s in really good form right now, very similar to what it was in ’17,” Johnson said. “It’s just very consistent; I feel like I’ve got a lot of control of what I’m doing, controlling my distance well with my flight, my shape. I’m feeling very comfortable standing over the golf ball right now, and that’s a really good feeling.”

The reference to 2017 is to the biggest what if of his career, when he came to Augusta three years ago as the World No. 1 and heavy favorite but left Thursday morning after a freak accident on the stairs of his rental home caused a back injury.

He’s played as well in recent months, with three wins since June and the FedEx Cup title, as he did in the leadup to that 2017 Masters. Now he’ll have the chance to see if he can convert that form into a trip back down Magnolia Lane every April for the rest of his life — and perhaps open the floodgates for future majors, too.

But Johnson hasn’t converted in similar situations in past majors. The four times he’s held at least a share of the 54-hole lead have yielded no titles — he came from behind to win at Oakmont — and those and other near-misses may have left scar tissue Johnson will have to encounter.

His major championship career outside of the one win — which itself came with some controversy — reads like a Shakespearean tragedy: A final-round 82 after leading by three at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U.S. Open; the “bunkergate” penalty knocking him out of a playoff at Whistling Straits the 2010 PGA Championship; missing a 12-footer to win and the 5-foot comebacker for a playoff at Chambers Bay in the 2015 U.S. Open.

While it might be up for interpretation if those experiences help or hurt Johnson in successive pressure situations, he said Saturday he is comfortable in the gauntlet of a major-championship Sunday since he’s been there plenty of times before, including a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at last year’s Masters.

“I’ve put myself in this situation a lot of times; I know what it takes,” Johnson said. “I know how I respond in this situation, so I’m very comfortable with having the lead going into tomorrow. I’ve been in this situation a lot of times, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The most-recent near miss came in August at the PGA Championship at Harding Park. As Johnson held a one-stroke lead entering the final round, I also said then it was a potential legacy-defining event. That turned out to be too binary a thought, as the result was somewhere in the middle — Johnson shot 2-under 68 but got beat by a historically-clutch performance.

But this time, with a large lead, Johnson more or less controls his fate — he’d likely be out of reach if he plays well — and the failure to win would be more crushing.

But Johnson knows if he keeps giving himself opportunities on the course, the bigger opportunity at hand would take care of itself.

“Tomorrow, it’s just 18 holes of golf,” he said. “I need to go out and play solid. I feel like I’m swinging really well; if I can just continue to give myself a lot of looks at birdie, I think I’ll have a good day.”

Any second major championship is validating, but for Johnson it would be especially so — the notion he simply lucked into one in the midst of all the other futility could be put to rest. It would give him more major championships than Jim Furyk, Davis Love III and four former World No. 1s including David Duval and Fred Couples.

So when Johnson’s legacy is written, will Sunday be the day he cleared that hurdle, and perhaps even the springboard to additional major-championship success?

Or will we say “and it happened again in 2020 at Augusta”?

84th Masters Tournament
Third Round Scores
1. Dustin Johnson, U.S., 65-70-65 — 200
T2. Sungjae Im, S. Korea, 66-70-68 — 204
T2. Abraham Ancer, Mexico, 68-67-69 — 204 *
T2. Cameron Smith, Australia, 67-68-69 — 204 *
5. Dylan Frittelli, S. Africa, 65-73-67 — 205
6. Justin Thomas, U.S., 66-69-71 — 206
T7. Sebastián Muñoz, Colombia, 70-68-69 — 207
T7. Patrick Reed, U.S., 68-68-71 — 207
T7. Jon Rahm, Spain, 69-66-72 — 207
T10. Rory McIlroy, N. Ireland, 75-66-67 — 208
T10. Brooks Koepka, U.S., 70-69-69 — 208
T10. Tommy Fleetwood, England, 71-66-71 — 208
T10. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, 68-68-72 — 208
Notables:
T20. Tiger Woods, U.S., 68-71-72 — 211
T29. Bryson DeChambeau, U.S., 70-74-69 — 213
T36. Bernhard Langer, Germany, 68-73-73 — 214 (age 63, oldest to make cut in Masters history)
T36. Andy Ogletree (a), U.S., 73-70-71 — 214
T36. Collin Morikawa, U.S., 70-74-70 — 214
T50. John Augenstein (a), U.S., 69-72-75 — 216
T52. Jordan Spieth, U.S., 74-70-73 — 217
T56. Phil Mickelson, U.S., 69-70-79 — 218

* – Ancer and Smith could Sunday become the first players in Masters history to shoot four rounds in the 60s

What’s the best major I’ve ever seen? My ultimate golf bracket

Major championship golf returns Thursday morning, and the first major since July 2019 has fans like me feeling the most excitement and anticipation there’s been for any golf tournament in a long time.

Thinking about other exciting majors I’ve been fortunate enough to witness made me realize I’ve seen the last 64 majors, dating back to the 2004 Masters, the day I discovered and fell in love with the game of golf.

The 102nd PGA Championship begins Thursday at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, the first major championship contested in 13 months. (pgachampionship.com photo)

The number 64 always lends its way to thinking about a bracket, and the end of the longest drought since World War II without a major contested is the perfect time to do one of the best major championships I’ve seen. The fact I’ve watched 16 of each tournament makes it easy to organize – each of the four majors is a quadrant of my bracket. Each of the 16 years between 2004-19 was placed in those bracket quadrants in randomized order.

In writing this, I’ve admittedly had to look up some of the majors to refresh my memory on some of the details – a fun nostalgia trip back to the majors played throughout my childhood, teenage and college years and beyond – and fondly remembered the drama and excitement of the majors in years gone by.

FIRST ROUND

MASTERS BRACKET

2010 (Phil Mickelson) def. 2016 (Danny Willett)
The emotions of Phil’s “win for the family” were more pleasant than in Jordan Spieth’s back-nine collapse.

2004 (Phil Mickelson) def. 2013 (Adam Scott)
Both were the end of a long quest for a maiden major, but Phil’s is what got me into golf.

2019 (Tiger Woods) def. 2008 (Trevor Immelman)
Sorry for the tough first-round draw, Trevor.

2017 (Sergio Garcia) def. 2015 (Jordan Spieth)
Spieth’s Masters was fun, but not as dramatic as Sergio’s long-awaited major win.

2011 (Charl Schwartzel) def. 2006 (Phil Mickelson)
April 10, 2011 was one wild afternoon of golf: eight players led on Sunday – five simultaneously – before Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to separate himself.

2005 (Tiger Woods) def. 2007 (Zach Johnson)
2007, with a 1-over winning score, lacked the roars Augusta is known for; ’05 had one of the biggest ever.

2009 (Angel Cabrera) def. 2018 (Patrick Reed)
2009’s three-way playoff after Tiger and Phil’s charges fell short is often forgotten.

2012 (Bubba Watson) def. 2014 (Bubba Watson)
I’m sure Bubba would agree his first Masters win came in the better overall tournament.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Y.E. Yang – Hazeltine) def. 2011 (Keegan Bradley – Atlanta Athletic Club)
Both winners are somewhat unheralded, but Keegan Bradley’s didn’t come head to head against one Eldrick Tont Woods.

2019 (Brooks Koepka – Bethpage Black) def. 2008 (Padraig Harrington – Oakland Hills)
Harrington’s third title in a six-major span is topped by Koepka’s fourth in eight majors.

2014 (Rory McIlroy – Valhalla) def. 2017 (Justin Thomas – Quail Hollow)
Both had “good major” characteristics — leaderboard, excitement, quality winner — but 2014 edges 2017 in each category, and had controversy too.

2007 (Tiger Woods – Southern Hills) def. 2016 (Jimmy Walker – Baltusrol)
A mundane Tiger win beats any other mundane major.

2004 (Vijay Singh – Whistling Straits) def. 2012 (Rory McIlroy – Kiawah Island)
Whistling Straits’ first PGA is an underrated one, with a Hall of Famer beating two perennial Ryder Cuppers in a playoff after a crowded leaderboard in regulation.

2018 (Brooks Koepka – Bellerive) def. 2006 (Tiger Woods – Medinah)
Koepka beat a charging Tiger in 2018, and Koepka’s first Wanamaker beats Tiger’s fourth here.

2010 (Martin Kaymer – Whistling Straits) def. 2005 (Phil Mickelson – Baltusrol)
I still roll my eyes at “Bunkergate”, but many fans rolled their eyes at a Monday morning finish in ’05.

2015 (Jason Day – Whistling Straits) def. 2013 (Jason Dufner – Oak Hill)
Day vs. Spieth, both at their peak, on a soft track was entertaining, even if 20-under won.

U.S. OPEN BRACKET

2012 (Webb Simpson – Olympic) def. 2009 (Lucas Glover – Bethpage)
The ’09 tournament never really felt like a major until the final round, by which point few were watching because it was Monday.

2008 (Tiger Woods – Torrey Pines) def. 2018 (Brooks Koepka – Shinnecock Hills)
2018 was a fine tournament, but Brooks Koepka didn’t have a broken leg.

2015 (Jordan Spieth – Chambers Bay) def. 2010 (Graeme McDowell – Pebble Beach)
As bad a venue as Chambers Bay was, few tournaments have had as much late drama.

2007 (Angel Cabrera – Oakmont) def. 2019 (Gary Woodland – Pebble Beach)
Cabrera beat Tiger and Jim Furyk in quintessential U.S. Open conditions.

2013 (Justin Rose – Merion) def. 2005 (Michael Campbell – Pinehurst)
Many thought a modern U.S. Open at venerable Merion couldn’t be pulled off; Rose pulled off the win over a loaded leaderboard.

2017 (Brooks Koepka – Erin Hills) def. 2014 (Martin Kaymer – Pinehurst)
Erin Hills wasn’t great as a host site, but at least it gave us a finish.

2006 (Geoff Ogilvy – Winged Foot) def. 2011 (Rory McIlroy – Congressional)
Phil Mickelson may disagree ’06 was the better tournament after the most heartbreaking of his six U.S. Open runner-up finishes.

2004 (Retief Goosen – Shinnecock Hills) def. 2016 (Dustin Johnson – Oakmont)
Nothing too special about ’04, but at least Goosen knew where he stood down the stretch without a penalty in limbo.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2019 (Shane Lowry – Royal Portrush) def. 2005 (Tiger Woods – St. Andrews)
Great as Tiger’s majors are, some lack the novelty of the ’19 Open: an Irishman wins The Open in the event’s first trip to Northern Ireland in six decades.

2009 (Stewart Cink – Turnberry) def. 2008 (Padraig Harrington – Royal Birkdale)
There’s never been an event – in any sport – like the 2009 Open. And that has nothing to do with Cink, but instead the runner-up: Tom Watson.

2007 (Padraig Harrington – Carnoustie) def. 2006 (Tiger Woods – Royal Liverpool)
Tiger’s first win after his father’s death is an iconic moment, but Harrington’s playoff win over Sergio was a better overall event.

2015 (Zach Johnson – St. Andrews) def. 2011 (Darren Clarke – Royal St. George’s)
Spieth narrowly missing the third leg of the Grand Slam made way for a three-way playoff at the home of golf.

2013 (Phil Mickelson – Muirfield) def. 2018 (Francesco Molinari – Carnoustie)
Molinari’s bogey-free final round would beat most here, but not the round of Mickelson’s life.

2017 (Jordan Spieth – Royal Birkdale) def. 2014 (Rory McIlroy – Royal Liverpool)
McIlroy played tremendously at Liverpool. Spieth recovered tremendously after a tee shot that might’ve landed in Liverpool.

2012 (Ernie Els – Royal Lytham & St. Annes) def. 2004 (Todd Hamilton – Royal Troon)
The sting of watching Adam Scott’s late collapse was lessened by the popularity of the man inheriting the title.

2016 (Henrik Stenson – Royal Troon) def. 2010 (Louis Oosthuizen – St. Andrews)
Louis was a class of his own at St. Andrews, while two players separated themselves in a great duel at Troon.

SECOND ROUND

MASTERS BRACKET

2004 (Phil Mickelson) def. 2010 (Phil Mickelson)
As special as 2010 was for the Mickelson family, Phil birdieing five of the last seven to beat Ernie Els for his first major is hard to top.

2019 (Tiger Woods) def. 2017 (Sergio Garcia)
As has happened a few times in real life, here Tiger beats Sergio head-to-head.

2005 (Tiger Woods) def. 2011 (Charl Schwartzel)
Tiger’s best non-final-round charge was still a Sunday one, in the completion of the third round in 2005. Later that day came the early favorite if I ever do a bracket of the best shots I’ve seen.  

2012 (Bubba Watson) def. 2009 (Angel Cabrera)
Speaking of if I ever do a best shots bracket… 2012 has two of them! Louis Oosthuizen’s double eagle set the stage early in the final round, before Bubba’s hook from the pine straw sealed his first major. 

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Y.E. Yang – Hazeltine) def. 2019 (Brooks Koepka – Bethpage Black)
In both events, a Superman looked human. Koepka, the 2019 Superman, still won; in 2009 Y.E. Yang pulled off the biggest upset in recent history.

2014 (Rory McIlroy – Valhalla) def. 2007 (Tiger Woods – Southern Hills)
With all due respect to him, Woody Austin doing the chasing in ’07 doesn’t compare to Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson being outdueled by Rory seven years later.

2018 (Brooks Koepka – Bellerive) def. 2004 (Vijay Singh – Whistling Straits)
Simply put, there was more excitement as Tiger chased and Koepka held him off than there was when the winner shot 76 on Sunday.

2010 (Martin Kaymer – Whistling Straits) def. 2015 (Jason Day – Whistling Straits)
Whistling Straits was a more worthy venue in 2010, and produced a Kaymer-Bubba playoff a shot ahead of Zach Johnson and McIlroy – although controversy surrounded Dustin Johnson’s penalty.

U.S. OPEN BRACKET

2008 (Tiger Woods – Torrey Pines) def. 2012 (Webb Simpson – Olympic)
Simpson beating Furyk et al at Olympic wasn’t a bad major. But just the storyline of Rocco Mediate making it to a playoff against the greatest ever is enough to advance 2008. I’ll discuss the winner later.

2015 (Jordan Spieth – Chambers Bay) def. 2007 (Angel Cabrera – Oakmont)
Some may say it’s blasphemous to put anything at Chambers Bay over anything at Oakmont. But it is where Spieth got halfway to the Grand Slam after another Dustin Johnson near miss.

2013 (Justin Rose – Merion) def. 2017 (Brooks Koepka – Erin Hills)
Merion was a real U.S. Open; Erin Hills hosted one in name only.

2006 (Geoff Ogilvy – Winged Foot) def. 2004 (Retief Goosen – Shinnecock Hills)
The Phil Mickelson runner-up tour continues with these two; 2006, though, was the far more dramatic defeat, the worst of his career.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Stewart Cink – Turnberry) def. 2019 (Shane Lowry – Royal Portrush)
Sometimes I think about the 2009 Open and still think “seriously, a 59-year-old man had a putt to win The Open?”

2007 (Padraig Harrington – Carnoustie) def. 2015 (Zach Johnson – St. Andrews)
Speaking of putts to win, the lip was unkind on Sergio’s at Carnoustie.

2013 (Phil Mickelson – Muirfield) def. 2017 (Jordan Spieth – Royal Birkdale)
The final six holes of both victor’s triumphs were exceptional, although I don’t know if Spieth considers the final round the best round of his life. Phil does.

2016 (Henrik Stenson – Royal Troon) def. 2012 (Ernie Els – Royal Lytham & St. Annes)
If the phrase “The Duel in the Sun” weren’t already taken by the 1977 Open, it might be used to describe Stenson’s duel with Mickelson four years ago.

THIRD ROUND

MASTERS BRACKET

2019 (Tiger Woods) vs. 2004 (Phil Mickelson)
As much of an affection as I have for 2004 and how it changed the direction of my sporting life, for golf fans of a certain age the emotions of 2019 will likely never be topped.

2005 (Tiger Woods) def. 2012 (Bubba Watson)
“In your life, have you seen anything like that!?!” could have been said about Bubba’s shot off the pine straw, too. But the chip that phrase was said about is too iconic a moment to pass up, although you could make a compelling case that ’12 was the better tournament.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Y.E. Yang – Hazeltine) def. 2014 (Rory McIlroy – Valhalla)
Tiger is 14-for-15 when holding a 54-hole lead in a major. The one he lost deserved to go far here, especially since the player who beat him fell off the planet not long after.

2018 (Brooks Koepka – Bellerive) def. 2010 (Martin Kaymer – Whistling Straits)
Tiger didn’t win at Bellerive – although it took a cold-blooded performance by Koepka to hold him off – but that day confirmed to any doubters who remained that Tiger could win a major again. He won the next one.

U.S. OPEN BRACKET

2008 (Tiger Woods – Torrey Pines) def. 2015 (Jordan Spieth – Chambers Bay)
I’ve touted the drama of the 2015 final round, but 2008 had two full days of that level of drama, in the final round then in the 19-hole playoff.  

2006 (Geoff Ogilvy – Winged Foot) def. 2013 (Justin Rose – Merion)
I’ve already twice referenced Phil’s collapse at Winged Foot, but it’s often forgotten that Jim Furyk bogeyed the 72nd hole and Colin Montgomerie double-bogeyed it, both to miss a potential playoff by a shot.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Stewart Cink – Turnberry) def. 2007 (Padraig Harrington – Carnoustie)
Tom Watson, already having won The Senior Open three times, was not outscored by anyone over the 72 regulation holes at Turnberry, beating 154 players with prime Lee Westwood and Luke Donald among the contenders. The one he tied, Stewart Cink, ultimately denied him Claret Jug No. 6.

2013 (Phil Mickelson – Muirfield) def. 2016 (Henrik Stenson – Royal Troon)
Phil nearly won two Opens – Stenson stopped him from that in ’16 – but many thought he’d never win one, sometimes including even himself. His ’13 win was the most unlikely of his 44 PGA Tour victories.

QUARTERFINALS

MASTERS BRACKET

2019 (Tiger Woods) vs. 2005 (Tiger Woods)
2005 was significant in Tiger’s career, his first major in nearly three years. 2019, though, was his first in 11 years, fused back and all.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 (Y.E. Yang – Hazeltine) def. 2018 (Brooks Koepka – Bellerive)
Both Yang and Koepka beat Tiger, but Yang was a more unlikely winner and came from behind to topple a still-in-his-prime Tiger. There was a real shock factor that afternoon.

U.S. OPEN BRACKET

2008 (Tiger Woods – Torrey Pines) def. 2006 (Geoff Ogilvy – Winged Foot)
As dramatic as 2006 was, it was dramatic because of great players’ failures. 2008 is remembered because of the greatest player’s accomplishment. For all the dramatic and dominant wins in his career, playing 91 holes on a broken leg well enough to win the U.S. Open might be Tiger’s greatest single-week achievement.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2013 (Phil Mickelson – Muirfield) def. 2009 (Stewart Cink – Turnberry)
Age 43 is a lot different than age 59, but nonetheless, in 2013 the aging legend actually won, and came from way back on Sunday to do so.

SEMIFINALS

2019 Masters (Tiger Woods) def. 2009 PGA (Y.E. Yang – Hazeltine)
21st-century majors are often viewed through the red-tinted lens of Tiger’s performance. 2009 was his only loss from in front, and though we didn’t know at the time it marked the end of his prime and foreshadowed the struggles to come. Through the next 10 years, major chances were more rare and he never could complete major No. 15 – then it looked like No. 15 would never come due to injury. Then, one magical April afternoon 11 years after No. 14, No. 15 happened, as Tiger beat Dustin Johnson, Koepka and others to do it.

2008 U.S. Open (Tiger Woods – Torrey Pines) def. 2013 Open Championship (Phil Mickelson – Muirfield)
As much as Phil’s Muirfield win came from nowhere and has become legendary, Tiger’s third U.S. Open win is – despite being far more expected (“expect anything different?!?”) – that much more iconic. And in addition to Tiger’s theatrics, both in the golf and health sense, Rocco Mediate was the perfect foil, matching Tiger shot for shot over 72 holes, then again for the 18 of the playoff, before losing in sudden death.

FINAL

2019 Masters (Tiger Woods) def. 2008 U.S. Open (Tiger Woods)
Simply put, these are the two greatest golf tournaments I’ve ever witnessed, and are two of Tiger’s greatest wins (the other three I’d put up there – the 1997 and 2001 Masters and the 2000 U.S. Open – were before the time frame for this bracket). They will also forever be linked, as the 2019 Masters was Tiger’s first major since the 2008 U.S. Open – a fact that was unthinkable on June 16, 2008. All that transpired in his life in the 3,954 days between these two events made Tiger’s “return to glory” what it was – what Nick Faldo called “the greatest moment in golf, ever.”

Column: Hootie Johnson leaves behind a complicated legacy

William “Hootie” Johnson, the former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, has died at age 86.

Johnson is one of only six men to serve as chairman of Augusta National, and while The Masters reached new heights during Johnson’s tenure, he leaves behind a complicated legacy.

Under his tenure as chairman from 1998-2006, Johnson oversaw the lengthening of Augusta National as new technology allowed golfers to hit the ball further, ensuring the course remained a tough test for the world’s best players each first full week of April.  Johnson also helped to keep the field truly elite, making changes to the tournament’s qualifying procedure.

Johnson helped bring the Masters to a wider audience, as he expanded television coverage of the tournament to the entire 18-hole course for the first time — it was previously contained to only the final 10 holes — and reopened the waiting list for tournament badges for fans for the first time since the 1980s.

But Johnson was also in charge of Augusta National during its biggest controversy:  the highly publicized disagreement with Martha Burk over the club’s policy not to allow female members.

In 2002, Martha Burk, who was chairwoman of the National Council of Women’s Organizations, wrote a letter to Johnson suggesting Augusta National’s male-only membership policy was sexist. In Johnson’s very public response, he claimed the club had the same rights as any private club, citing the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts and sororities/fraternities as examples of organizations which allowed membership to only one gender.

However, Johnson’s tone in his response was less than subtle, calling Burk’s letter “offensive and coercive,” and saying the club would not change their policy “at the point of a bayonet,” and they would not be “bullied, threatened or intimidated.”  The response sparking a national controversy over the issue, with Burk leading protests against the club, including one near the course property in Augusta during the 2003 Masters.

Johnson, speaking as the public face of the Augusta National membership, certainly came across as stubborn, and many saw the response as misogynist and discriminatory.  This characterization of Johnson is ironic, because his personal history shows a much more inclusive man than the one portrayed in 2002.

Johnson, a former running back at the University of South Carolina, worked as a banker in Greenwood, South Carolina before rising to prominence in the business world as an executive at Bank of America before becoming chairman at Augusta National.

As a businessman, Johnson served as co-chairman of a committee that developed a plan to desegregate state colleges and universities in South Carolina and was a trustee at historically black Benedict College.  As a banker, Johnson often appointed both women and African-Americans to his corporate boards in an era before such appointments were common, and loaned money to minorities when others would not.  He was also the first prominent businessman to suggest removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House.

U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) defended Johnson to USA Today in 2002:  “His whole life has been just the opposite of what he’s being portrayed. He’s always come down on the side of access and equality. He’s not a prejudiced person in any way. He is not deserving of this controversy.”

Johnson, who was a member of Augusta National since 1968 after joining at the invitation of club co-founder Bobby Jones, eventually resigned as chairman in 2006 at age 75, becoming chairman emeritus. The club admitted two female members, Condeleezza Rice and Darla Moore, in August 2012.

Augusta National and The Masters certainly grew during Johnson’s term as chairman, but after serving in a role where most haven’t been a household name — current chairman Billy Payne is still probably better known among non-golf fans as the CEO of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics — he’ll likely be most remembered for the standoff on Augusta’s membership policy, making his legacy complicated as he is remembered in the coming days.

Chairmen of Augusta National Golf Club:
Clifford Roberts, 1931-76
William Lane, 1976-80
Hord Hardin, 1980-91
Jackson Stephens, 1991-98
Hootie Johnson, 1998-2006
Billy Payne, 2006-present

Column: Sergio’s major is worth the wait

After a long road from prodigy at age 19 to veteran at age 37, Sergio Garcia is finally a major champion.

The “best player to never win a major” burden has been lifted.  An 18-year pursuit has, at last, reached its end.

The memory of the 2007 Open Championship lip-out at Carnoustie, a water ball while leading at the 2008 PGA, and multiple run-ins with Tiger Woods has been erased by an epic victory Sunday at the 81st Masters, beating Justin Rose in a playoff.

Garcia, who won his first major in his 74th attempt, entered Sunday with the third most major championship starts without a win, behind only Jay Haas (87 starts) and Lee Westwood (76 starts), but became the third Spaniard to win the green jacket, joining Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999) and Seve Ballesteros (1980, 1983), who would have turned 60 on Sunday.

At one point on Sunday, Sergio’s breakthough looked like it would have to wait another major.  After Garcia led by three on the front nine, Rose caught him with consecutive birdies on six, seven and eight, before Garcia bogeyed the 10th and 11th to fall two behind, then hit his drive on the 13th left into the pine straw across Rae’s Creek.

From there, however, Garcia turned the tide.  After a penalty stroke for an unplayable lie, Garcia punched out to 90 yards short of the green on the par-5, calmly hit his approach to seven feet, then made the putt for par.  Rose, simultaneously, missed a birdie putt to go up three.

After a birdie at 14, Garcia then hit one of the great clutch shots on the 15th hole–which is saying something considering that hole’s history in the previous 80 Masters–when his second shot to the par-5 hit the pin and settled 14 feet from the hole.  Garcia led briefly when he made the putt, although Rose birdied to tie at 9-under.

Rose birdied the 16th, where Garcia missed a short birdie putt, but Rose bogeyed the 17th to fall back to a tie, marking the first time since 1998 both members of the final pairing were tied for the lead on the 18th tee on Sunday.  That 1998 Masters was also the last time a player won his first major at age 37 or older, when Mark O’Meara won at 41.

Garcia hit two clutch approach shots into the 18th green–one in regulation and one in the playoff–setting up excellent birdie opportunities; after missing his five-footer to win in regulation, Garcia made his 12-footer in the playoff to win, and physically released the emotion of 73 previous frustrations in majors and 19 in the Masters, the most attempts ever before winning for the first time.

In winning the 81st Masters, and a record $1.98 million purse, Garcia has become the fifth player to win the Masters after previously winning low amateur in the event, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus.  Garcia won low-amateur in 1999, the last Masters before Sunday won by a Spaniard (Olazabal).

That 1999 Masters was just the beginning for Garcia, who turned pro at 19 later that year and finished second to Woods at the PGA Championship at Medinah.

What followed is a career filled with triumph in “normal events” on the PGA and European tours, perennial participation in–and impact in the outcome of–the Ryder Cup, but consistent near-misses in major championships.

Garcia finished in the top 10 in all four majors in 2002, finished as high as fourth at Augusta (2004), finished third at the 2005 U.S. Open and 2006 PGA Championship, the latter also coming during a Woods win at Medinah.

In the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, Garcia led wire-to-wire until the final hole, when he lipped out an eight-foot put for par to win the title, then lost a four-hole playoff by one to Padraig Harrington.

A year later in the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, Garcia held the lead for most of the back nine on Sunday, only to hit a ball in the water at the 16th and bogey two of the last three holes, losing again to Harrington.

A fourth runner-up finish in a major came at the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, when a final round 66 wasn’t enough to catch a historic performance by Rory McIlroy.

Garcia did win the 2008 Players Championship, the biggest tournament that isn’t a major, with a clutch shot to within five feet on the famous island green at the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

But the questions still remained about whether Garcia could ever win a major, including from Sergio himself, and the noise has gotten louder as time has gone on.

But this week, Garcia seemed to have a clearer mind, which appeared to help him recover from the bogeys at the 10th and 11th to make a charge down the stretch.

“Because of where my head was at, sometimes, I did think, ‘Am I ever going to win one?’,” Garcia said Sunday after winning.  “I’ve had so many good chances, and I’ve either lost them, or somebody did something to beat me. So, it did cross my mind, but lately I’ve been getting some good help. I’ve been thinking a little differently, more positively, and I’ve been more accepting, that if for whatever reason it didn’t happen, my life is still going to go on. It’s not going to be a disaster.”

Sunday’s runner-up, Justin Rose, finished second at Augusta for the second time; the Englishman might have two green jackets if not for Jordan Spieth’s record-tying 18-under performance in 2015 and Garcia’s back-nine charge on Sunday.

But Rose, a good friend with Garcia, was beyond classy in defeat.  During the round, the pair acknowledged each other’s impressive shots with thumbs ups and low-key high fives.  Once Garcia won, Rose hugged him and congratulated him.

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion and 2016 Olympic gold medalist posted his 5th Masters top 10 finish, the most by Rose in any major.  Rose has never missed the cut at the Masters, and his finishes have gradually trended upward over his career, including the two seconds in the last three years, with a tie for 10th last year.

Rose should win the Masters at some point in the next few years, but Sunday was Sergio’s day, a fact that Rose even acknowledged by tweeting his congratulations to Garcia on Sunday night:

Congrats @TheSergioGarcia
Incredible battle out there. Sport in the moment can be tough. But it’s just sport. Hope you guys enjoyed it. pic.twitter.com/er7OzrdTgA

— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) April 10, 2017

Rose was far from the only member of the pro golf community who extended congratulations to Garcia on the long-awaited major title:

Congrats @TheSergioGarcia. Well earned.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 9, 2017

2 unbelievable players and 2 great friends, but I couldn’t be happier for @TheSergioGarcia. You deserve it all amigo!!

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 9, 2017

So happy for @TheSergioGarcia! He’s been so close for so long. You know Seve is going crazy heaven! #welldonebuddy @TheAngelaAkins

— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) April 9, 2017

Congrats to Sergio!! So happy for him. So deserving for an amazing career he’s had.. Forever a major champion!

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) April 9, 2017

While the golf community is collectively happy for Garcia, whose win is among the most popular in recent memory, Garcia himself had been possibly the happiest he has been during his career when he came to Augusta.  His change in perspective about major championships not defining him helped him play looser, and he is entering a life-changing period off the course, as he is engaged to be married this summer.

And now, after taking the pressure off himself to perform on golf’s biggest stage, he has finally been able to do something that was waited on for so long many had given up on his chances to do so.

Sergio Garcia is finally a major champion.  After an epic performance and a thrilling victory, the green jacket was worth the wait.

 

 

The 81st Masters Tournament

Leaders:
1. Sergio Garcia, Spain, -9 (71-69-70-69–279), won on first playoff hole
2. Justin Rose, England, -9 (71-72-67-69–279)
3. Charl Schwartzel, South Africa, -6 (74-72-68-68–282)
T4. Matt Kuchar, U.S., -5 (72-73-71-67–283)
T4. Thomas Pieters, Belgium, -5 (72-68-75-68–283)
6. Paul Casey, England, -4 (72-75-69-68–284)
T7. Kevin Chappell, U.S., -3 (71-76-70-68–285)
T7. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, -3 (72-73-71-69–285)
T9. Ryan Moore, U.S., -2 (74-69-69-74–286)
T9. Adam Scott, Australia, -2 (75-69-69-73–286)

Notables:
T11. Rickie Fowler, U.S., -1 (73-67-71-76–287)
T11. Jordan Spieth, U.S.,  -1 (75-69-68-75–287)
T18. Fred Couples, U.S., +1 (73-70-74-72–289)
T22. Jason Day, Australia, +2 (74-76-69-71–290)
T22. Phil Mickelson, U.S., +2 (71-73-74-72–290)
T27. Jon Rahm, Spain, +3 (73-70-73-75–291)
T36. Stewart Hagestad, U.S., +6 (74-73-74-73–294), low amateur
Defending champion Danny Willett (+7), Henrik Stenson (+8) and Bubba Watson (+8) missed the cut.
Dustin Johnson withdrew; Tiger Woods did not play.

Fast Five: Storylines Entering The Masters

The Masters gets underway tomorrow at Augusta National, and as always there are a plethora of storylines.

While Tiger Woods is absent, continuing to nurse a bad back, 93 of the world’s best players make up the most exclusive field in golf for the 81st time.

Over the years the fields at Augusta have gotten deeper, and this year is no exception, with dozens of players who have a legitimate chance to wear the green jacket on Sunday night.

As tournament play begins on Thursday morning, here are the biggest storylines:

The Weather

After Wednesday’s Par 3 contest was rained out for the first time ever, the course should play soft.  However, it won’t play easy, as winds of over 20 miles per hour are forecast for the Augusta area on Thursday and Friday.

Augusta National is never easy, but should play even more difficult than usual if this forecast is correct.  A score of even-par could easily be in contention entering the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday, the weather will be better.  Calm winds and warmer temperatures will allow for better scoring conditions, meaning that the even-par score that should be a contender on Friday evening will have to move a few under-par to don the green jacket on Sunday evening.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson

This will be the first major Dustin Johnson has played as the top-ranked golfer in the world, and the first Masters since his victory in last year’s U.S. Open, a win that got the proverbial monkey off his back in major championships.

Few players have entered a Masters as hot as Johnson enters this year’s edition.  Johnson has won three straight starts on the PGA Tour, and has finished in the top six in six of his last seven starts.

Johnson was the clear favorite early Wednesday, but now his status for the tournament may be in jeopardy after accidentally falling down the stairs in his Augusta rental home and injuring his lower back.  Fortunately, Johnson has the very last tee time (2:03 pm ET), so he has the longest possible amount of time to treat his injury and decide if he can play.

Johnson’s manager says he hopes to play, but the uncertainty about whether Johnson can play and how well he can play with the injury has made Johnson an even bigger story entering the first round.

Jordan Speith vs. the 12th Hole

Last year, Jordan Spieth led The Masters by five shots entering the back nine on Sunday, but a quadruple-bogey seven on the par-3 12th hole cost him his second straight green jacket.

Now, as the 23-year old seeks his third major championship, Spieth will have face redemption at the difficult Amen Corner hole after hitting two balls in the water the last time he played it in competition.

Spieth hit his tee shot to about one foot at the 12th in Tuesday’s practice round, perhaps exorcising some of the demons from a year ago.

Even with last year’s collapse, Spieth’s record at Augusta is the best ever by a player in his first three starts:  a win and two runner-up finishes.  With that experience, it would be shocking if Speith is not in the mix late Sunday.

The Young Guns

Spieth is not the only young star capable of winning the green jacket on Sunday.

20 years after a 21-year old Tiger Woods changed the game of golf forever with his 12-shot Masters win, the young stars who grew up watching Woods are primed for Masters success.

Rory McIlroy (age 27) is seeking to win the final leg of the career grand slam, and would become the second youngest to do so (Woods was 24).  McIlroy, who is ranked second in the world, led through nine holes of the final round in 2011 before a back nine 43 in his best chance to win to date.  McIlroy has finished in the top 7 in both of his starts after missing time with a rib injury.

Jason Day (29) is ranked third in the world.  His form hasn’t been as strong as some of the others on this list, although his mother’s cancer battle may explain that.  Now, after her cancer surgery was successful and she will not require chemotherapy, Day has a clear mind to go chase the green jacket.  Day tied for second in the 2011 Masters and finished third in 2013, and has the game to threaten in any major championship; he won the 2015 PGA Championship.

Justin Thomas (23) is ranked seventh in the world after starting the 2016-17 PGA Tour season with three wins.  Thomas, who grew up competing against Jordan Spieth in junior events, tied for 39th in his only Masters appearance last year, and his best major finish is a tie for 18th, although he has made the cut in five of his six starts.

Hideki Matsuyama (25), ranked fourth in the world, also has two wins and two seconds this season, plus an unofficial one against a strong field at the Hero World Challenge.  The Japanese star made the cut at Augusta twice as an amateur, and has finished in the top seven the last two years, along with a tie for fourth at last year’s PGA Championship.

Rickie Fowler (28), ranked eighth in the world, has a win at The Honda Classic and six top-six finishes this season.  While he didn’t win last week in Houston, some suggested his result of third is even better than winning (only two players the last 60 years have won The Masters after winning the week before, a spell that now falls to Shell Houston Open winner Russell Henley).  Fowler tied for 5th in the 2014 Masters as part of a season when he finished in the top five of all four majors.

Jon Rahm (22), ranked 12th, is the least established star on this list, but is still coming into Augusta on a hot streak after winning the Farmers Insurance Open and finishing in the top 10 in his last four starts (including two WGC events).  However, this is Rahm’s first Masters–the only Masters rookie since 1935 to win was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.  Rahm’s idol is fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, whose 60th birthday would have been this Sunday.

Danny Willett (29), ranked 17th, is the defending Masters champion, although he has not won an event since donning the green jacket last April.  Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) are the only players to win back-to-back Masters.

Other young guns with a legitimate chance include Emiliano Grillo (24), Brooks Koepka (26), Daniel Berger (23) and Tyrrell Hatton (25).

Youth vs. Experience

But while the young stars have the talent to win The Masters, experience is always a factor at Augusta.

Masters champions receive a lifetime exemption into the event, with most playing the event into their late 50s or early 60s.  Often, one of these legends will randomly pop up on the leaderboard and contend on the weekend.

Jack Nicklaus, who stopped playing the Masters after 2005 but will be one of the honorary starters on Thursday morning, won his sixth Masters at age 46 in 1986 to become the oldest Masters winner, then tied for sixth at age 58 in 1998.

Phil Mickelson (46) is trying to tie Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods for the second most Masters titles, as a win would be his fourth.  Mickelson, while still in his prime, is a few months older than Nicklaus was in 1986, and has finished in the top seven in two of his last three starts.

Bernhard Langer (59), the 1985 and 1993 champion, tied for eighth in 2014 and was tied for third, two shots back through three rounds last year, before fading with a final round 79.  Langer comes in in good form with a win and two thirds this season in the PGA Tour Champions, where he leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

Fred Couples (57), marking the 25th anniversary of his 1992 Masters triumph, can threaten if his bad back cooperates.  Couples finished in the top 20 in every Masters from 2010-14, including a sixth in 2010, and has finished in the top six in all four PGA Tour Champions starts this year, with one win, and is second in Charles Schwab Cup points.

Other past Masters champions in the field include Charl Schwartzel (32), Adam Scott (36), Trevor Immelman (37), two-time champion Bubba Watson (38), Zach Johnson (41), Mike Weir (46), Angel Cabrera (47), two-time winner Jose Maria Olazabal (51), Vijay Singh (54), Augusta native Larry Mize (58), Sandy Lyle (59), Ian Woosnam (59), and Mark O’Meara (60).

There are also players who have not won The Masters, but still have plenty of experience on Augusta’s hallowed ground.

Ernie Els (47), a four-time major champion, may be playing his final Masters, as his exemption from winning the 2012 Open Championship expires after this year.  From 2000-2004, Els finished in the top six every year, including two runner-up finishes.  Last year, he six-putted the first hole, eliminating a realistic chance to win just 15 minutes after his tournament started.

Jimmy Walker (38) and Henrik Stenson (turned 41 on Wednesday) are the winners of the last two major championships of 2016.  Walker, who won the PGA Championship, tied for 8th in the 2014 Masters, while Stenson, the Open Champion, has never finished better than 14th at Augusta, although he has 11 combined top 10s in the other three majors and was the 2016 Olympic silver medalist.

Matt Kuchar (38) and Brandt Snedeker (36) are both seeking their first major, and have both said how emotional a win at Augusta would be.  Kuchar finished in the top 10 each year from 2012-14, including a tie for third in 2012, and won bronze at the 2016 Olympics.  Snedeker has three top 10s including a tie for third in 2008.

Steve Stricker (50) has scaled back on playing regular tour events, focusing on the majors as he still seeks his first.  He has two top 10s in The Masters and none since 2009, but has not missed a Masters cut since 2008.

Lee Westwood (43), Paul Casey (39) and Sergio Garcia (37) are each European stars who have had successful careers but never won a major championship, while Justin Rose (36) has one major, the 2013 U.S. Open, and won the Olympic gold medal in 2016.  Westwood has only finished outside the top 11 once in the last seven Masters, with two runner-up finishes; Casey has four top tens, including ties for sixth and fourth the last two years; Garcia has three top eight finishes including a tie for fourth in 2004 and has four second-place finished in majors; Rose has four top 10s including a tie for second in 2015.

 

 

2017 Masters
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
Notable First Round Tee Times (ET)
7:40 a.m.:  Honorary Starters (Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player)
9:06 a.m.:  Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Hadwin
9:28 a.m.:  Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner, Andy Sullivan
10:01 a.m.:  Fred Couples, Paul Casey, Kevin Na
10:12 a.m.:  Russell Knox, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama
10:34 a.m.:  Jordan Spieth, Martin Kaymer, Matthew Fitzpatrick
10:45 a.m.:  Phil Mickelson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Si Woo Kim
10:56 a.m.:  Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, Jason Day
12:24 p.m.:  Danny Willett, Matt Kuchar, Curtis Luck (a)
12:46 p.m.:  Angel Cabrera, Henrik Stenson, Tyrrell Hatton
1:19 p.m.:  Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Shane Lowry
1:41 p.m.:  Rory McIlroy, Hideto Tanihara, Jon Rahm
1:52 p.m.:  Marc Leishman, Bill Haas, Justin Thomas
2:03 p.m.:  Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker

Masters Champions
(Year, Winner, Nationality, Score)
1934 Horton Smith, U.S., 284
1935 Gene Sarazen, U.S., 282
1936 Horton Smith, U.S., 285
1937 Byron Nelson, U.S., 283
1938 Henry Picard, U.S., 285
1939 Ralph Guldahl, U.S., 279
1940 Jimmy Demaret, U.S., 280
1941 Craig Wood, U.S., 280
1942 Byron Nelson, U.S., 280
1943-45 No tournament due to World War II
1946 Herman Keiser, U.S., 282
1947 Jimmy Demaret, U.S., 281
1948 Claude Harmon, U.S., 279
1949 Sam Snead, U.S., 282
1950 Jimmy Demaret, U.S., 283
1951 Ben Hogan, U.S., 280
1952 Sam Snead, U.S., 286
1953 Ben Hogan, U.S., 274
1954 Sam Snead, U.S., 289
1955 Cary Middlecoff, U.S., 279
1956 Jack Burke Jr., U.S., 289
1957 Doug Ford, U.S., 283
1958 Arnold Palmer, U.S., 284
1959 Art Wall Jr., U.S., 284
1960 Arnold Palmer, U.S., 282
1961 Gary Player, South Africa, 280
1962 Arnold Palmer, U.S., 280
1963 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 286
1964 Arnold Palmer, U.S., 276
1965 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 271
1966 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 288
1967 Gay Brewer, U.S., 280
1968 Bob Goalby, U.S., 277
1969 George Archer, U.S., 281
1970 Billy Casper, U.S., 279
1971 Charles Coody, U.S., 279
1972 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 286
1973 Tommy Aaron, U.S., 283
1974 Gary Player, South Africa, 278
1975 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 276
1976 Raymond Floyd, U.S., 271
1977 Tom Watson, U.S., 276
1978 Gary Player, South Africa, 277
1979 Fuzzy Zoeller, U.S., 280
1980 Seve Ballesteros, Spain, 275
1981 Tom Watson, U.S., 280
1982 Craig Stadler, U.S., 284
1983 Seve Ballesteros, Spain, 280
1984 Ben Crenshaw, U.S., 277
1985 Bernhard Langer, West Germany, 282
1986 Jack Nicklaus, U.S., 279
1987 Larry Mize, U.S., 285
1988 Sandy Lyle, Scotland, 281
1989 Nick Faldo, England, 283
1990 Nick Faldo, England, 278
1991 Ian Woosnam, Wales, 277
1992 Fred Couples, U.S., 275
1993 Bernhard Langer, Germany, 277
1994 Jose Maria Olazabal, Spain, 279
1995 Ben Crenshaw, U.S., 274
1996 Nick Faldo, England, 276 
1997 Tiger Woods, U.S., 270
1998 Mark O’Meara, U.S., 279
1999 Jose Maria Olazabal, Spain, 280
2000 Vijay Singh, Fiji, 278
2001 Tiger Woods, U.S., 272
2002 Tiger Woods, U.S., 276
2003 Mike Weir, Canada, 281
2004 Phil Mickelson, U.S., 279
2005 Tiger Woods, U.S., 276
2006 Phil Mickelson, U.S., 281
2007 Zach Johnson, U.S., 289
2008 Trevor Immelman, South Africa, 280
2009 Angel Cabrera, Argentina, 276
2010 Phil Mickelson, U.S., 272
2011 Charl Schwartzel, South Africa, 274
2012 Bubba Watson, U.S., 278
2013 Adam Scott, Australia, 279
2014 Bubba Watson, U.S., 280
2015 Jordan Spieth, U.S., 270
2016 Danny Willett, England, 283

Masters Preview

Promos for the Masters on ESPN since the first of the year have been saying “It won’t be spring until it’s The Masters.”  And with that, just a few days before the annual pilgrimage of golfers and golf lovers to Augusta, Georgia, it warmed up across the south.  And, quoting the advertising of CBS, the “tradition unlike any other” is here.

Unfortunately, Tiger Woods is not, due to surgery on his back.  The man who has played in every Masters since 1994, and has been the favorite in practically every one since his first win in 1997.  Therefore, this field is wide open.

As always, there are tons of storylines this week, with the absence of Tiger certainly being one of them.  A young field, with a record number of first-timers, is another.  Perhaps my favorite is the story of Craig and Kevin Stadler.  Craig, the 1982 Masters champion, and Kevin, the 2014 WM Phoenix Open winner, will become the first father-son pair to play in the same Masters (they are the ninth tandem to both play in the Masters in their lifetime), as Kevin plays his first, and Craig, at age 60, plays his last.  While the tournament did not pair them together (that shouldn’t have been that hard, Augusta), Kevin will be four groups ahead of his father on each of the first two days, allowing him to meet Craig on the 18th green.  If Craig surprisingly makes the cut, perhaps the golf gods will allow them to be paired together.  If not, Kevin can see his father putt out at Augusta one last time.

I don’t have to preview the course, as anyone who has ever watched the Masters knows about the glory, prestige, and excitement created each April by the Augusta National Golf Club.  However, one change has been made, and not by the choice of the Augusta hierarchy.  The landmark Eisenhower Tree on the left side of the 17th hole had to be removed in February after an ice storm that some have called the worst ever to hit the Augusta area.  Without the tree to block the potential path of tee shots on the hole, the drive was just made a lot easier.  Expect a lot more balls in the 17th fairway, which should lead to easier approach shots, and a few more birdies on Augusta’s penultimate hole.

I heard one commentator say there are literally 30 players in the field with a legitimate shot at winning from the moment they step on the first tee on Thursday.  I thought that number was a little high, until I went through the field and looked at who had a good shot to win.  Sure enough, here are the 30 players with a great chance to be wearing the green jacket on Sunday night:

30. Nick Watney
Watney is by no means on this list due to current form, but instead due to experience; Watney has four top 20s in six Masters starts, including a 7th in 2010.

29. Graeme McDowell
McDowell seems to play his best on big stages, although his career record at Augusta shows four missed cuts in six appearances. He does, however, also have a pair of top 17 finishes.

28. Patrick Reed
One of a record 24 Masters rookies, Reed has won three times since August, including a WGC event at Doral. He also has all the confidence in the world.

27. KJ Choi
Choi tends to suddenly appear on the leaderboard at Augusta, with a 3rd in 2004 and top 10s in 2010 and 2011. Has played every major since 2002 Masters (I was surprised by that).

26. Louis Oosthuizen
The sweet-swinging South African has made only one cut in five attempts at Augusta, but finished 2nd in 2012, losing to Bubba Watson in a playoff. Has been battling injury lately, though.

25. Hideki Matsuyama
The former Asian Amateur champion was low amateur in 2011, and finished in the top 20 in all three majors he played in last year. Has a very bright future.

24. Fred Couples
Throw out the stats for Freddy; the ageless wonder (he’s 54 now), and 1992 Masters champion, seems to play well here no matter how he’s playing coming in. Here’s one relevant stat: Couples has finished in the top 15 each of the last four Masters, and had a shot on Sunday in 2010.

23. Lee Westwood
Westwood is not having a good year, but one of the best players without a major is one of two players to finish in the top 15 each of the last four Masters (Couples is the other), including a 2nd in 2010 and a tie for 3rd in 2012.

22. Jimmy Walker
The 35-year old got his long-awaited first PGA Tour win in October, and won two more events soon after. He is playing his first Masters, and his career best in a major is a tie for 21st at the 2012 PGA.

21. Ernie Els
The four-time major champion is always a threat, and a win this week would be the third leg of the career grand slam for the Big Easy. Finished top 6 at Augusta every year from 2000-2004, but has only one top 15 since (2013).

20. Steve Stricker
The now part-time player has a plethora of top 20s in majors, 11 top 10s, but only three top 5s, and none since 1999. Did finish tied for 6th at Augusta in 2009.

19. Henrik Stenson
While his best Masters finish is 17th, he ended 2013 as the hottest player in the world, finishing 2nd at the Open Championship and 3rd at the PGA before winning the FedEx Cup. Of his 7 top 10s in majors, 6 are top 5s. Could become world #1 with a win.

18. Ian Poulter
Poulter had top 10s in 2010 and 2012, and has come close to winning a pair of Open Championships and a PGA. If someone tells him the Ryder Cup is being played this week, he might blow out the field, as he always plays well in that arena.

17. Charl Schwartzel
He has all of one top 5 in a major in his career, but we know he’s capable of winning after he birdied the last four holes to win the 2012 Masters over a crowded leaderboard. He did finish in the top 25 in three of the four majors last year, with a high of tied for 14th in the US Open.

16. Angel Cabrera
Cabrera is another player that his form coming in never seems to matter. “El pato” won the Masters in a 2009 playoff, over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell, and was in the final group on Sunday in 2011 and 2013, losing last year’s playoff to Adam Scott, with each result coming with little to no warning signs.

15. Sergio Garcia
One of the best players without a major title comes in with good form, having finished in the top 20 in every start this season, including a win in Europe in January and a 3rd last week in Houston.

14. Keegan Bradley
Augusta seems to fit Bradley’s game, although his best finish in two tries is just 27th. He is one of two players in the last century to win his first major start (along with Ben Curtis), and comes in off a 2nd at Bay Hill and five top 20s in seven starts so far this year.

13. Brandt Snedeker
Snedeker has been in the last group on Sunday twice, in 2008 and 2013, and was the 54-hole leader last year. He has publicly spoken about the process of learning the course, and what it takes to win here. His worst Masters finish as a pro is 19th, although his start to 2014 has been up-and-down.

12. Jordan Spieth
No Masters rookie has won the tournament since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, and Spieth is the highest ranked rookie on my list. He certainly appears to have the game and nerves to do it, but history isn’t on his side. Was low amateur at the 2012 US Open, and comes in with a pair of top 5s early in the season on the west coast.

11. Jim Furyk
The most recent “Mr. 59” has a trio of top 6 finishes at Augusta, although none have come since 2003, and is coming off heartbreak in the 2012 US Open and 2013 PGA. He is one of the most consistent players of this era, and can be counted on for a likely top 20, if not better, and has top 20s in three of his last four Tour starts.

10. Jason Dufner
While the defending PGA champion hasn’t finished better than tied for 20th in his three Masters appearances, he hasn’t finished worse than 30th, and he now knows what it takes to win a major. He was the 36-hole co-leader in 2012, and has finished in the top 5 in five of his last ten non-Masters major attempts, and hasn’t missed a cut all year.

9. Bubba Watson
The 2012 champion hasn’t played on Tour in over a month, but he finished in the top 2 each of his previous three starts, with a win at Riviera. In his career, when he’s threatened in major championships, he’s really threatened, losing a playoff at the 2010 PGA, and winning the green jacket in 2012.

8. Justin Rose
Rose finally won his long-anticipated major championship at the US Open last year at Merion. While his Masters record isn’t the best, he did tie for 5th in 2007 and tie for 8th in 2012. His best result of the year is a tie for 8th in Tampa, although he appears to have centered his schedule around the majors more than he has in past years.

7. Zach Johnson
While Johnson’s Masters win in 2007 is his only good finish at Augusta, he is one of the few top 10 players in the world who is actually playing very well right now, with a win at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and three other top 10s. He has finished in the top 10 in three of the last six majors.

6. Dustin Johnson
The one-time novelty player known for his length is now a threat to win every time he tees it up. In four starts this year, he has two runner-ups and a worst finish of 6th. He came painfully close to the US Open and PGA in 2010, and the Open Championship in 2011, and the only thing holding him back could be that, if he is in contention on Sunday, it would be his first time with a shot down the stretch.

5. Jason Day
It seems it is just a matter of time before one of the game’s best young players, wins a major, and particularly the Masters. He finished in a tie for 2nd in 2011 and 3rd in 2013, falling just short of becoming the first Aussie to win the event. He also has two other runner-up finishes in majors, at the 2011 and 2013 US Opens. He can become #1 in the world with a win, and won his last start at the WGC-Match Play, although he has been sidelined with a thumb injury since.

4. Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has a reputation as a top 10 machine, and that has held true early this season, with five top 10s and a 13th in eight starts. He finished tied for 4th and 2nd in his last two starts, and had the tournament won in Houston before an unfortunately timed pull and the incredible luck of Matt Jones. Kuchar finished tied for 3rd in the 2012 Masters, and had a great shot to win on the back nine, and tied for 8th last year. The Georgia native surely wants this major more than any other.

3. Phil Mickelson
It’s hard to bet against the three-time Masters champion, particularly after his unexpected win at the Open Championship last July that leaves him just a US Open away from the career grand slam. Before last year’s tie for 54th, Lefty had finished in the top 27 in every Masters since 1997, and the top 10 every year of that stretch except three. Phil has eight top 3 finishes in this event. The words Mickelson and Masters seems synonymous. While he hasn’t had the best results of his career this year, a runner-up in a European Tour event at Abu Dhabi and five top 20s on the PGA Tour early in the season isn’t bad at all.

2. Rory McIlroy
The favorite in Las Vegas is probably the most talented player in the field. He, surprisingly, doesn’t have a top 10 in his Masters career, in five tries, with a best finish of tied for 15th in 2011 after leading by four after 54 holes and leading by one on the tenth tee on Sunday. He knows how to win majors, with a pair of eight-shot victories in the 2011 US Open and the 2012 PGA. Augusta seems to suit his game, so it’s probably only a matter of time before he is wearing a green jacket. Will it be this year? In four Tour starts this season, he has finished in the top 25 in each, with a tie for 2nd at the Honda Classic, and a tie for 7th last week in Houston, where he closed with a 65.

1. Adam Scott
Scott finally won his first major at last year’s Masters, after finishing in the top 10 the previous two years, with a tie for 2nd in 2011. In doing so, he became the first Australian to win the Masters after so many heartbreaks for the nation. After winning at Augusta last year, he finished tied for 3rd at the Open Championship and tied for 5th at the PGA. He was playing fairly well before his breakthrough win last year, but is playing better coming in this year. In five starts, his worst finish is a tie for 25th, while each of his other four finishes were in the top 12, with a 3rd in his last start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. No one has won the Masters back-to-back since Tiger Woods in 2001-02, and the only others to do it are Nick Faldo in 1989-90 and Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66. Scott, however, seems poised and ready to join them. Should he win, the 33-year old would jump to the top of the world rankings for the first time in his career.