The Masters 2011: No Clear Favourite
The golfing season is, well and truly, up and running with the first and most illustrious major starting on Thursday at Augusta National. The Par 3 competition gets underway today, but with the unfortunate record that no winner of the short course competition has gone on to win the Masters proper, I wouldn’t bank on the big names to excel here. However, one thing is for sure, that this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in the history of the Masters.
Over the past decade the two golfing heavyweights, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, have dominated ‘The Masters’, winning six out of a possible ten between them. Yet, since the scandal over his numerous affairs, Tiger has not looked a shadow of his former self. As for Phil, he had looked in disastrous form earlier this year, up until his hard fought victory over Scott Verplank at the Houston Open. On this evidence, no one will pencil in on of the above as champion elect, which had become tradition over recent years. Instead, this year’s Masters is destined to be much more competitive, with, in my opinion, at least 10 possible champions, and more encouragingly, half of those potential winners are Europeans.
Ones to watch:
Luke Donald:
Donald has had a superb start to 2011 and can be seen as the ‘man on form’, as displayed in his win in the World Match Play Championship in January. He is steady, and crafts out beautiful attacking shots but he is also short off the tee, which could prove testing at Augusta. Won the par 3 contest, which doesn’t help his cause.
World Ranking: 4th
Finish: 7th
Dustin Johnson:
Perhaps the most unfortunate man in golf, he has never won a major. With a three-stroke lead into the final round of the US open he posted a 10 over par 82. Also lost the PGA on the final hole because of a dubious penalty awarded to him. He is very long off the tee but lacks composure and mental strength.
Ranked 11th
Finish: outside top ten
Martin Kaymer:
Missed cut here last year, but won the PGA championship, claimed number 1 spot in world rankings, very successful 2010.
He is ‘Mr consistent’, makes good approach shots, mentally and technically sound.
Ranked 1:
Finish: top 5
Anthony Kim:
My wildcard choice, yet to win major, he was superb at Masters 2010, tied 3rd, making 11 birdies in the final round, he enjoys playing Augusta.
However, he is wild, error-prone and will struggle at Amen Corner. He can make unbelievable shots and gives himself scoring chances, but too inconsistent to sustain four rounds at Augusta.
Ranked: 40th
Finish: Cut
Graeme McDowell:
Did not qualify for the Masters last year, has played here before though. Won the US open and was instrumental in the Ryder cup last year.
Again he is consistent, a good putter, but can drift without making good scores too easily though.
Ranked: 5th
Finish: 10th-5th
Rory Mcllroy:
Still only 21 he has finished 3rd in three majors. A three putt on 15th at PGA and an 80 on the Friday of the British Open Championship, scuppered chances of a win, highlighting his inexperience. He is very attacking; he makes birdies, but has concentration issues, if things aren’t going well expect the head to drop. Still has fantastic potential though.
Ranked: 9th
Finish: top 20
Phil Mickelson:
With 3 of his 4 major wins at The Masters, ‘lefty’ loves Augusta. He has a huge following, and the win last weekend will boost his confidence.
He plays miraculous recovery shots, has an exceptional short game- the best in golf, but his long irons can be untidy. I expect him to be close to the lead the whole way.
Ranked: 3rd
Finish: 2nd
Bubba Watson:
Inexperienced in majors, didn’t play here last year, did come 2nd in PGA last year after a playoff. Long off the tee, which suits Augusta, he has an unorthodox swing, and can be erratic. Sometimes weak with putter in hand. However, I feel his time has come to win the first major.
Ranked: 17th
Finish: 1st
Lee Westwood:
Had a superb year in 2010, gained the number one spot only to relinquish it two months later after injury struggles. Dubbed the ‘best player not to have won a major, and has finished 3rd or above in each major.
Fine swing, good from tee to green, but has a strange inability to score low in final round.
Ranked: 2nd
Finish: top 5
Tiger Woods:
For a year and a half Tiger has been dreadful. His swing is all over the place, sometimes good, sometimes worse than amateurs playing on a pitch and putt course. Yet, with 14 major wins, the ‘Tiger slam’, and 4 masters, can anyone rule him out… no, I didn’t think so.
Best putter in the game, makes birdies, recovers well. Off the tee- an utter shambles, the ball could quite literally go anywhere. Not his year for me
Ranked: 7th- lowest he has ever been
Finish: top 10
It’s set to be a cracking four days of golf, so stay glued to your TV sets. At least ten players could win this competition, maybe more when you consider the likes of Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan. For me though, I think we’re about to witness the most epic golfing battle since Gary Player and Arnold Palmer on the very same course in the same historic competition. This year, it will be Mickelson and Watson. The shootout for the prestigious green jacket is on!
