Fresh, Green Grass on a Quiet Morning
By Peyton Schultze
It’s back: The 2021 Masters Tournament in the crisp, spring air of Augusta, Georgia (via YouTube).
A tradition unlike any other… The Masters Tournament is back.
It was great to have The Masters officially back in action in November of 2020 after a prior spring postponement due to COVID-19, but there is no doubt that the hype is building even higher for the original, spring version of the illustrious tournament. There is nothing quite like Augusta National on a bright, sunny day in April, which is the exact scene for this year. In addition, the tournament will be home to around 12,000 fans on each day over the weekend (a step down from the usual 40,000-50,000 in a normal year), which should be a welcome sight for many golf fans.
Missing this year with be the legendary Tiger Woods, a five-time winner at Augusta and one of the greatest players of all-time in the sport. Woods was injured in a serious car wreck in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, and although he is expected to make a full recovery at some point, he was dealt some serious injuries and will have to miss this weekend’s festivities. Yet the field at the 2021 Masters will show their support for Woods by putting together a competitive tournament, which begins on Thursday morning. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be joined by Lee Elder this year for the honorary opening tee shots on that fine Georgia morning, although this year holds even more meaning. Elder broke the color barrier at Augusta National back in 1975, paving the door for future African-American players like Woods, and his opening tee shot marks a step forward for the sport’s most iconic course.
With that said, we all expect another memorable tournament this weekend, as there are a wide array of serious contenders who could compete for a green jacket. Take a look at our preview for the 2021 Tournament, featuring our picks for top contenders, wild card threats, and the holes that could make-or-break some hopes of victory for many of the top players in the world.
The Favorites
Dustin Johnson is the reigning champion heading into the weekend, and should be viewed as the clear favorite at a course that he has had great success at over the course of his career (via KPCW).
Dustin Johnson, United States (+950)
Johnson is the best golfer in the sport right now according to the World Golf Rankings, and coming off his first green jacket in the fall should give him some real momentum heading into this upcoming weekend. It is certainly unlikely that Johnson hits the -20 mark like he did in November, but keep in mind that this powerful golfer has not finished outside of the top ten in Augusta since 2015. Yes, that means six straight top ten finishes at one of the toughest golf courses in the world. Johnson’s real key to a victory over the weekend? Reworking some of his recent putting struggles, which seems to be more of a fluke than anything. If Johnson can get his game under control on the greens, the ever-so-poised superstar could easily capture his second straight win at The Masters and join the elite club of players to win multiple times at Augusta National.
Jordan Spieth, United States (+1150)
Outside of Tiger Woods (who will be sorely missed over the weekend), perhaps no player in the sport creates more excitement on the course than Spieth when he is playing well. That is what makes his recent run on the PGA Tour so fascinating, as he enters this weekend fresh off a huge win at the Texas Open. Spieth has some shaky history in Augusta, including some of the most back-breaking, late-round performances in recent history, but he has also had a fair amount of success with some smart game-planning. Spieth must continue his recent run of excellent iron play to have a chance over the weekend, but converting birdies on par fives and burying some long putts could keep Spieth in the mix for a win. He’s a huge wild card entering the weekend, but given his recent hot stretch, one of the sport’s most popular players could return to the top with another green jacket on Sunday.
Justin Thomas, United States (+1250)
Thomas is always a golfer that seems like he should have more victories on The Tour than he actually has, which means he is looking to finally dominate one major tournament where he could break through and finally become a household name. Well, the 2021 Masters could present that opportunity. Thomas has improved his position in the field in each of the past four years at The Masters, including a fourth place finish in the fall, which means he could be due for a breakthrough over the weekend. In addition, Thomas’ skillset matches up well with the challenges of Augusta. Thomas is traditionally one of the best modern golfers off the tee, but his greatest asset is his ability to push through adversity, especially late in rounds after some early struggles. If he can start off hot this weekend and clean up some recent putting struggles, he’ll be a real contender on Sunday.
The Real Threats
McIlroy has more boom-or-bust potential than any other pro golfer on The Tour, which makes him an exciting play at Augusta (via PGA Tour).
Bryson DeChambeau, United States (+1150)
Certainly the most controversial figure in the sport, DeChambeau is changing the way that golf is played at the professional level. With the longest drive in the game and some of the most analytical approaches in all of golf, DeChambeau faces a true test in the form of Augusta National. This battle is truly a real test of man versus golf course, especially considering the brute strength of DeChambeau’s drives off the tee, but his key to his second major will come down to the tricky greens of Augusta. Wedges and putters will be absolutely vital to a win here for every player, but no player relies more on his creative game planning based on his strict regimen than DeChambeau. We feel like he’ll overcome Augusta at some point in his career if his approach forces changes to the holes, but it is a real question if 2021 is the year for his breakthrough win.
Jon Rahm, Spain (+1250)
Here is another fun golfer to watch. Rahm is one of the most intense competitors on The Tour with such raw emotion each time on the course, but he may be toned down a little but this weekend after the birth of his first child. The Spanish golfer also has top-ten finishes in his last three appearances here, and his recent trend of clutch play in some big-time tournaments could make him one of the safest picks in the entire field this weekend. Yet the biggest question for Rahm is just how much practice time he will actually get in this week. He could be in a bit of a rush mode throughout the rounds this weekend if he gets off to some slow starts, which could put his play in jeopardy. But Rahm is due for his first major win, and the 2021 Masters could be the perfect storyline to guide Rahm toward superstardom across the sports world.
Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland (+1900)
With Woods inactive for this year’s tournament, McIlroy may take over the mantle for the most popular player on the course this weekend. But despite his popularity, McIlroy may be one of the most frustrating players to watch with such inconsistent accuracy combining with his immense talent. And yet, McIlroy has still never been able to secure a green jacket, even though he has six top-ten finishes in the past seven years. It is a remarkable feat that he has competed nearly every year but never come that close to the top, which makes his case hard to predict over the weekend. McIlroy has basically revamped his entire swing after a poor outing at the Players Championship in March, and his drive power has forced his game to adapt in order to change. His new approach is a story to watch this week, which could pay off in a big way… or leave plenty of questions in the air for the prolific golfer.
The Veterans
Mickelson is one of the sport’s greatest modern players, and a resurgent effort at Augusta could give him a historic late-career arc (via USA Today).
Phil Mickelson, United States (+17500)
I know, it is tough to say that Mickelson deserves to be viewed as a player who could potentially win this weekend after falling out of the top 100 of the World Golf Rankings, but he does have more experience here than any other player suiting up this weekend. But even though Lefty always has somewhat of a chance here as a former three-time winner, what makes his case so interesting entering the weekend is his recent iron play, which is always a huge factor at Augusta National. The course is going to play very fast this weekend, and since Phil has such a knowledgeable mind regarding the ins and outs of this course with irons and on the greens, you have to give him somewhat of a shot. Don’t be shocked if Lefty is hanging around in the mix on Saturday and Sunday.
Sergio Garcia, Spain (+6000)
Once viewed largely as a foil to the swagger of Woods on the course in his heyday, Garcia finally broke through his label as an underrated player with a win at The Masters in 2017. It had been a longtime coming for the Spanish golfer, but the veteran has somewhat fallen off the map in recent years. However, 2021 has been different. Garcia was forced to miss The Masters in November due to testing positive for COVID-19, but he has returned in the new year with the second best tee to green numbers on the entire Tour. If Garcia can continue that type of sudden resurgence at a place where he has made the cut in 14 of his 21 career appearances, the veteran golfer could be in the mix for the fifth top-ten finish of his career over the weekend.
Bubba Watson, United States (+9000)
Would you be surprised at all to hear that Watson has finished in the top-12 in the past three years at this course? Maybe or maybe not considering his iconic moments in the past at this golf course, where Watson always looms a real threat. Bubba is one of the most inconsistent professional golfers in the sport, but Augusta has brought out the best of him at times over the course of his career. In fact, in the final round of the 2019 Masters, Watson even made a remarkable back-nine run that gave him a real chance at a third green jacket before Woods ultimately sealed the door shut. The biggest concern for him is his shaky play as of late, but he is certainly the type of golfer to make a random charge out of the blue. Don’t rule out this dangerous lefty heading into the weekend.
The Wild Cards
Finau has played well at Augusta in the past, but needs to close out rounds in order to stay in contention (via Golf.com).
Tony Finau, United States (+3500)
Finau has competed at The Masters in recent years, but late rounds have cost him opportunities at securing a green jacket. So will 2021 be any different? Luckily for the American golfer, recent play shows that he has a fair chance heading into the weekend. Finau is currently second in all of professional golf in strokes gained from tee to green over the past two months, and also enters this tournament having finished in the top-ten in two of his three appearances. But just like so many golfers who visit this hallowed ground, past mistakes could linger and cause some brash decisions. He has all the talent in the world to finally win, and would not be a surprise to see in the top-five of the leaderboard, but back-nines will be his main key to success.
Cameron Smith, Australia (+3500)
Here is a crazy wild card pick who could be the surprise winner by Sunday afternoon. It’s true that November’s Masters Tournament was a little strange with more opportunities to score, but it is still impressive that Smith became the first player in tournament history to score in the 60s in each round. And not only did Smith play well in his last appearance at Augusta, but the 27-year-old Aussie finished tied for 5th all the way back in 2019 and put up a solid -7 at The Players. Smith clearly has a mental skillset that is built for big tournaments, which makes him a very interesting player to watch for over the weekend.
Patrick Cantlay, United States (+2050)
Patrick Cantlay is another player that a lot of people are riding high on heading into the weekend. The 29-year-old golfer is ranked 12th in the world right now, and although he has not won a major of his own yet, he seems to always stay in contention at Augusta. So what is the reason for his decent success so far in his short career at The Masters? Terrific iron play, and although he did miss the cut at The Players a couple of weeks ago, he gets to return to a place where he has finished in the top-20 two times. Cantlay could be right near the top with Johnson and Spieth, and it would not surprise anyone at all if he actually ended up securing his first green jacket.
The Holes That Will Decide It
There is a very good chance that Amen Corner will once again decides who remains in contention or not over the week at Augusta (via Sky Sports).
Hole 11: Par 4, 505 Yards
Amen Corner is the most iconic stretch of Augusta National, but it is also the hardest area on the course. Hole 11 kicks off that three-hole stretch with a birdie opportunity, although the slopes leading up to the greens may be harder to manage than any other hole in the tournament. The nearby lake on the left side of the hole also causes some major cause for concern if players decide to take a more aggressive route, but the better play on this hole may to take the par and move on. Yet the lingering trouble on the next two holes could lead players into some bold moves on 11, which always makes for an entertaining moment. It’s not the hardest hole, but it is surely one that future winners need to overcome in order to win.
Hole 12: Par 3, 155 Yards
It could easily be regarded as the most iconic hole in all of professional golf, but it also may be one of the trickiest to navigate. Aggressiveness is one of the key traits of modern golf, especially on approaching shots, but no hole at Augusta punishes players with a lack of patience than Hole 12. For a look at recent history, let’s look at one of the game’s greatest Masters players in Tiger Woods. In his 2019 win, Woods stayed patient and settled for an easy par, as those around him folded in the moist-conditions around him. But in 2020, Woods struggled continuously and even made 10 on the hole in one round. It is as deadly of a hole as they come, and one that could make-or-break one’s chances at securing a green jacket.
Hole 13: Par 5, 510 Yards
It is known for the iconic beauty of Rae’s Creek, but it is easy to forget how much of a trap that this hole really is. 13 follows two of the hardest holes on the golf course with a par 5, a great chance for players to potentially re-gain a stroke after possibly losing one in the prior two. But if players aren’t careful, they’ll miss into the creek if a shot is too far to the left, or miss into the pine trees if a shot is too far to the right. This hole could be even more of a decider on Sunday with sluggers like DeChambeau in the mix, which could create a huge momentum shift one way or another. It is an extremely tricky hole for those looking to go on a charge, and its potential for scoring has a chance to ruin some otherwise solid rounds.