Could this be the year Rory finally clinches victory at the Masters? Back in October 2022, prior to the start of this season, we accurately predicted Jon Rahm’s triumph at Augusta. This year marks the 2nd Masters since the inception of the LIV tour. It’s intriguing that several players, including Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, finished in 2nd place. The comparatively reduced competitiveness and frequency of play on the LIV tour did not seem to hinder their preparation, as many had feared.
As always, course history exerts significant influence at the Masters, given its annual venue consistency. While instances like Jordan Spieth’s dominant debut exist, they are usually exceptions. Experience often reigns supreme, with even seasoned veterans occasionally delivering remarkable performances. Notable examples include Jack Nicklaus, who secured a T6 finish at 57 years old, and Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer, who have achieved commendable placements in the past decade even in their elder years. Many times form doesn’t seem to matter as well when the comfort level is high.
Although we’ve witnessed shorter hitters like Zach Johnson claim victory, weather conditions typically play a pivotal role in such scenarios. Long hitters, particularly left-handed players like Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, historically hold an edge. Hole 13, Azalea, stands out as a critical spot for birdies or potential eagles, a fact even apparent to those who experience it solely through video games, owing to its configuration that perfectly suits their strengths.
Here are the course history insights alongside our comprehensive power rankings. While some may overlook course history when placing bets, I advise against doing so in this instance. While current form is crucial, experience carries weight at Augusta. Notably, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler narrowly missed the cut to qualify for this week’s tournament, ranking 51st and 55th, respectively. Fowler is back in the field for the first time since 2020. Kuchar will have a shot as well, being close to the top 50 in the rankings and having a few weeks to get on the right side.
