Golf Talk With Greg Holman – #72

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It’s gotten to the point that professional golf tournaments are boring to watch on TV. When Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Lee Trevino were competing, it was compelling TV. It seems that today’s stars are too focused and vanilla to make things interesting. I blame it on the current landscape. Here’s the formula: Great college player. Did well on the mini tour. Can hit the ball 350. You know what to expect. The best putter wins. And when one of the young breed wins a tournament, with prize money, they are set for life, even with the price of gas.

Putting all that aside, for me at least, the Master’s tournament at Augusta National is still must see TV. It’ll be 68 degrees in central Missouri Sunday, but I won’t miss the first Major of the season. It’s one of the few times I’d rather watch than play. So the next question is, who are the contenders this year?

Tiger Woods is not a serious threat. With five green jackets, he certainly knows how to win at Augusta, but his health and stamina just won’t allow it. He told ESPN it’ll be a game time decision as to whether or not he will play. I predict he will play. As the year’s pass it’ll become increasingly more difficult for him to win. He’s 46 now, the same age Jack was when he won his last Major, and it was the Master’s. Jack was 100% and he was not expected to play well. Jack didn’t think he could win until he shot one of the best rounds of his life on the back nine Sunday. So who will win this year?

There are 91 players but I feel we can narrow the possibilities down to eleven. I’m not including the defending champion in that eleven. Hideki Matsuyama may say he feels confident but it is so difficult to repeat at Augusta plus he has had back and neck issues. Rory McIlroy has an outside chance as does Justin Thomas, but I’m not convinced they can put four solid rounds together. Xander Schauffele is becoming the Tom Kite of today’s PGA: The King of Top Five’s. Brooks Koepka is over-confident and he has been injury-riddled. Daniel Berger could don a green jacket Sunday if he can keep his temper in check and not worry about rulings. Dustin Johnson seems like a serious contender if he can avoid the big number.

The 2020 winner missed the cut last year. That leaves Cam Smith, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. Cam has two wins this year but maybe doesn’t have enough experience to conquer the Augusta greens. I like Morikawa and Hovland’s chances if they can have a hot putting week. All I know about Scheffler is his stats, which are great, and he is occasionally wild off the tee. So if I were betting, I would go with Jon Rahm. He’s finished in the top 10 in each of his last four starts at the Masters. I predict his first win of the season, will be a Major.

You notice I didn’t put Jordan Spieth in the conversation. He’s become too mechanical in my opinion and isn’t the putter he once was.

Enjoy the tournament and if you decide to play rather than watch, Hit ’em straight!


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