Josh Chandler (@therealjoosh on twitter)
It’s finally time! The Masters is back after a quicker turn-around then we would normally see. When Augusta National was last on our screens Dustin Johnson was well on his way to winning his first green jacket by one of the largest margins of victory in the last decade at the Masters. A player that is normally stoic when it comes to letting his emotions show on the golf course could not help but be moved to tears after winning the legendary tournament, this one just means more.
Even the most casual sports fan’s know what the Masters at iconic Augusta National is all about, simply put it’s the one they all want to win. The Masters is back in its traditional spot on the golfing calendar and the 2021 addition appears to be one of the most wide open Masters in a very long time, here are the names you need to keep an eye on as we get ready to make that trip down magnolia lane once again.
DUSTIN JOHNSON
The 2020 Masters winner rode his win into the early part of 2021 and continued to look like the man to beat at any tournament he added to his schedule. Johnson would follow up the win at Augusta National with an 11th at the tournament of champions in Hawaii before adding another win to his resume at the Saudi International and he was looking near unstoppable until his driving club abandoned him during the final round at the Genesis in February. Since that time DJ has made two more starts and struggled in both by his high standards, he was supposed to play last week in San Antonio but withdrew prior to the event. The American could easily sweep aside the field once again but for the first time in a while there are some questions surrounding the state of his game at the moment as he heads back to Georgia to defend last years title.
JUSTIN THOMAS
The PLAYERS champion will be heading back to Augusta National full of confidence after securing his first win at TPC Sawgrass just a couple of week’s ago. JT struggled with his game for a period of time earlier this year, but he seems to have found something in recent times, and when it clicked he won in spectacular fashion. One of the best ball-strikers in the World has improving results at the Masters in his last several visits with a 22nd, 17th, 12th, and 4th last year in his last four starts at the legendary event.
JON RAHM
There would have been some bit questions surrounding the Spaniard 24 hours ago as Rahm and his Wife where expecting the birth of their first child at any moment, but earlier Sunday there was another addition to the Rahm family with the birth of his child. Jon had made comments that he would withdraw from any tournament, even halfway through to be at the birth of his child (and so he should be!), but those concerns are obviously a thing of the past now. The concern with Rahm will be his mental state after a long week as well as where his game is at just now. After making equipment changes to start 2021 Jon has struggled with consistency at times and while he still has a bundle of top-ten finishes he has yet to win this year.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU
Bryson is one of the real wild-cards coming into the Masters in 2021 after he was considered among many the clear favorite to win at Augusta National last year. DeChambeau has an unspectacular history at the Masters so far in his career with his best finish being a 21st place finish back in 2016. The “scientist” comes into this week however in perhaps the best form of anyone in this field after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and finishing 3rd at TPC Sawgrass. He did struggle a bit at the WGC Match Play in his last start, but under that format the showing can be pretty much dis-regarded. A second visit to the Masters with his “new found power” could very easily result in a win for Bryson this time around.
JORDAN SPIETH
This is the man that will be many peoples pick to win at Augusta National again in 2021, and it is hard to argue against Jordan after he won for the first time since 2017 just hours ago. 2021 has been the year of Jordan so far as he has revived his career, contended on a regular basis, and now broke through the win barrier that plagued him for so long. The former Masters winner has an incredible record around Augusta National and even when he has not been playing well he has found a way to produce results here with his worst finish being a 46th in 2020 across his last seven appearances at the Masters. Spieth should be a favorite to win again this week, but is he a lock to do so in a much stronger field surrounded by golfs best players?, certainly not.
OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS WEEK
Patrick Reed…..The American has struggled with consistency in 2021 especially of late, but he did win earlier this year and is a former Masters winner. If he can find consistency with every aspect of his game (something he has struggled with this year) he can certainly win again.
Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger, Paul Casey…….each player has been playing fantastic golf in 2021 and both Berger and Casey have won already this year. Expect at least one of these names near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
Brooks Koepka….. health is a concern for Brooks and he is returning this Week after surgery on his knee not that long ago. If he is healthy he can win, if not?, a withdrawal could be just as likely.
Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Scottie Scheffler…….these three have limited experience at Augusta National but are extremely talented young players with Kawa of course being a Major winner already as well. Previous winners have normally had a good amount of experience at the Masters but apart from that one of these three could be holding the green jacket come Sunday.
THE MASTERS BEGINS THURSDAY APRIL 8TH
Keep an eye out for everyone’s picks to win the first Major of 2021 this Wednesday and follow us on twitter @mysportingblog1 for all the latest sports news and selections.