Each week we give our picks of who we like in that week’s tournament. With this week being the first major of the year, we thought we would serve up a “Masters” sized edition and asked some of our friends in and around the golf community to share their picks as well.
Dan Hauser a.k.a. D Money, TSS
(@danhausergolf)
Obviously my heart says either Tiger, Phil, or Rory this week for obvious reasons, but every time I start thinking about them winning this week one name kepps popping in my head: Justin Rose.
Justin Rose has been about as close as one could possibly be to winning the Masters without actually putting on the green jacket. Since 2011, Rose has had the best overall score to par and most birdies/eagles made at Augusta. He has also had the best par 5 and 4 scoring and highest GIR at Augusta the last 5 years. Oh yea, and he lost in a playoff to Sergio just last year.
So, as much as I want Tiger, Rory, or Phil to win this week I have to go with Rose.
Chris Chaney, Swing by Swing
(@Wrong_Fairway)
I’ve said for the past few years that I’m going to pick Rory every year until he wins one. I just can’t quit him, and I’m going with him again this year, but with some actual confidence in the pick.
Rory’s game is tailor-made (product placement) for Augusta National. He hits the ball high and far and right-to-left. He hits his irons incredibly well and his wedge game came around at Bay Hill a few weeks ago when he went absolutely nuts on Sunday.
Of course, the big question mark with Rory is always his putting. It was great at Bay Hill and confidence is huge on the greens. One good week on the surface and he’s getting fit for the jacket. Another mediocre week and he probably notches his fifth-straight backdoor top-10 at the Masters.
I really hope Brad Faxon is in Augusta this week.
Matthew Laurance, host of Back Spin Golf
(@realLauro5)
1. Justin 🌹
Per stat God Justin Ray
Reasons to like @JustinRose99 this week:
– Most birdies/eagles made at ANGC since ’12
– Highest GIR% in Masters last 5 Yrs
– Best par 5 score to par at Masters last 5 Yrs
– Best par 4 scoring avg at Masters last 5 years
– Best score to par overall in Masters since 2011
2. Bubba
Playing extremely well.
2 wins last 3 tourneys. 2 Jackets
Duh.
Dark horse: Alex Noren
Because I picked him a month ago….😎
Sam Hauser, Sports Director 1480 KAUS
(@1480_Sam)
I’m sure a lot of people are going to go with Justin Thomas, and I would not blame them one bit. But, I am going with Rory McIlroy. The Masters is the last major he needs to get the career Grand Slam. He has finished in the top 10 at Augusta in each of the last five years, which makes sense because his game goes well for that course. He’s one of the longest hitters on tour and is solid with the putter. He’s had his personal ups and downs over the years, but on the course, he has a clutch gene you have to respect.
Ryan Ballengee, GolfNewsNet
(@RyanBallengee)
Justin Rose is my guy. He has played so well dating back to last fall, and he’s not blown his wad on winning a bunch of events in 2018. He’s been getting his form right, feeling comfortable in contention on a Sunday. He has a score to settle after losing out to Sergio Garcia last year, and his Augusta record is one of the best in the field.
Sean Zack, Golf.com
(@Sean_Zak)
I’ve been riding the Mickelson train for quite awhile now, and there’s no reason to ditch him now. It has gotten to the point where if Phil doesn’t contend this week, I’ll be shocked. Try saying that for any other 47-year-old ever (besides Nicklaus of course). If he can keep his misses from leading to double bogeys, he’ll be there on Sunday.
Trevor Reaske, SB Nation
(@TrevorReaske)
I went back and looked at my previous Masters picks, which never seem to work out. Two years ago, I went with Phil. He shot 72-79 to miss the cut by a shot. In 2017, I predicted a bounce back win for Jordan Spieth. A couple 75’s derailed his chances en route to his worst ever Masters finish. I guess what I am saying is that my track record is not great here. Augusta is an unpredictable place sometimes (Danny Willet, hello) and with about 10 guys that have a legit shot this year, picking a winner is going to be tough. I’ll go with Dustin Johnson. He hits it long and straight, makes birdies and eagles, and can putt well enough to win. DJ also has some added motivation after falling down some stairs and missing the tourney last year. Look for DJ to slip on a green jacket Sunday night.
Luke Kerr-Dineen, Golf Digest Contributor
(@LukeKerrDineen)
There’s a lot to like about Paul Casey’s game this week, and it’s hard not to talk myself into Matt Kuchar again (three Masters top fives in his last six starts!). But for as appealing as those names are, there’s only one I keep coming back too: Justin Rose. Rose has two runner-up finishes in his last three Masters’, and weirdly, his good play seems to be sliding under the radar. He’s won 32 percent of available prize money so far this season — second only to Justin Thomas. Rose is in the prime of his career and hunger for revenge. I think he gets it done this week.
Dan Bier, Two Inches Short
(@TwoInchesShort)
Winner: Phil Mickelson
You’d probably expect me to take Tiger to win the 2018 Masters, but Phil Mickelson just feels right.
The 47-year-old Lefty is playing the best golf of his life breaking a nearly 5-year winless drought with a victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship back in March.
Numbers-wise, he currently sits 4th in strokes gained-approach, 2nd in strokes gained-putting, and 2nd in strokes gained-overall this season. Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Narrative-wise, he has a shot to break Jack’s record and become the oldest winner in Masters history … as well as join Tiger and Arnie with his fourth green jacket.
Plus, did you see him in his button-down business casual shirt during Tuesday’s practice round? Tell me he’s not a lock.
Scott Michaux, Augusta Chronicle
(@ScottMichaux)
Tiger Woods is going to draft the greatest comeback story since Ben Hogan and the bus. But if Tiger’s Augusta magic is just off, Rory McIlroy will swoop in to finish his slam.
Josh Berhow, Golf.com
(@Josh_Berhow)
In a battle of the Justins, Rose edges Thomas and wins his first green jacket. He’s always played Augusta well, and this year he finally breaks through.
Alex Myers, Golf Digest
(@AlexMyers3)
Justin Rose. With 13 top 10s in his past 16 starts, the guy basically never has a bad week anymore. Then there’s his track record at Augusta National. A playoff runner-up last year, another runner-up in 2015. He’s never missed the cut in 12 tries and he hasn’t finished out of the top 25 in a decade. Like I (foolishly) do with UVA in the NCAA Tournament, I’m probably going to keep picking Rose at the Maters until he finally wins a green jacket.
Michael Shamburger, The Big Lead
(@mshamburger1)
As much as I would love to tell you all that Tiger Woods is going to win the 2018 Masters, I just can’t bring myself to say it. I will attempt to WILL it to happen while watching, and considering his great play as of late and the fact that he has dominated this course, I do expect a top five finish from Big Cat …
but …
I’ve got to go with what my brain is telling me, and it is saying pick the guy who has won here twice and has returned to form on the PGA Tour this season with two wins. If you don’t know who I’m talking about … Bubba.
It’s no secret that Augusta fits Bubba’s game, it fits any lefty’s game (Phil … yay, Weir … ugh). Watson, who hadn’t won a PGA Tour event since 2016, finally got one back this year at the Genesis Open. He added another win at the WGC Match Play, and let’s be honest with ourselves, we all know he’s clearly one of the favorites this year. Sure, we may want to see Tiger complete the comeback, Phil claim a fourth green jacket, or Rory finish off the career grand slam, but Bubba is where my money is this week (seriously, along with Tiger and a few other guys).
Last year, during what was a down year even though he had four top 10 finishes, he missed the cut. Don’t expect that this year.
Whatever happens, this is building up to be one of the best Masters ever because the storylines are endless.
Winner – Bubba Watson
Second – Justin Rose … another second-place finish for Rosey seems unjust
