The 80th Masters
Augusta National Golf Club, 7,435 yards, par 72
Designers: Bobby Jones and Alistair McKenzie, 1932
Defending champion: Jordan Spieth. -18, tied Tiger Woods 1997 scoring record
Network: ESPN & CBS; CBS team:Jim, Sir Nick, Verne, Peter Kostis, Ian Baker Finch, etc...
TV times: Thursday-Friday, ESPN: 2-6:30 PM CT/3-7:30 PM ET
Saturday: CBS: 2-6 PM CT/3-7 PM ET
Sunday: CBS: 1-6 PM CT/2-7 PM ET
Weather: Thursday: Sunny, windy, 74, West 14 MPH with gusts up to 25 MPH
Friday: Partly sunny, 69, wind W 14 MPH, gusts to 23 MPH
Saturday: Sunny, 66, Wind WNW 13-20 MPH
Sunday: Sunny, 65, Wind, SE 4-8 MPH, should be good scoring conditions.
Key Tee times Thursday
9:26 AM ET/8;26 AM CT: Zach Johnson-2007 winner, like where his game's at; Rickie Fowler-right in the thick of things; Cheng Jin-Amateur, no shot.
9:37 AM ET/8:37 AM CT: Louis Oosthuizen-Kind of a darkhorse, lost in a playoff to Bubba in 2012. Jason Dufner-Has his game back, won at the Career Builder in California in January; Patrick Reed-Has the game and the mental toughness to win. He leads the tour in top 10's this year with 7 in 11 events.
9:48 AM ET/8:48 AM CT: Jordan Spieth- Defending champion, if the putter is hot, can absolutely defend his title; Paul Casey: Good player, but don't think he'll be a factor; Bryson DeChambeau: Amateur from SMU who won the individual NCAA championship last year. Interesting player with a bright future, but this stage is too large right now for the 22 year old.
9:59 AM ET/8:59 AM CT: Justin Thomas- Another darkhorse who can win here at some point, but not this year; Emiliano Grillo-No, he won't win; Dustin Johnson-Well, one of these years maybe he'll get over the hump and win a major, but don't see it here.
10:43 AM ET/9:43 AM CT: Phil-He's hitting it 299, just like he did 10 years ago, and he leads the tour in scoring average at 69.17. Phil will be a factor; Marc Leishman-Possible contender till Sunday, then he falls off; Henrik Stenson- Expecting him to play pretty well. He's been close all year, but don't see him winning.
11:05 AM ET/10:05 AM CT: Adam Scott-Really like his prospects if he can get the putter cookin; Kevin Kisner- Another darkhorse in the field. Could be an interesting player come Sunday. Brooks Koepka-Another interesting competitor who could make some noise on Sunday.
12:44 PM ET/11:44 AM CT: Bubba: Definitely in the mix. Has had a bad sinus infection, there's always something, but he's ready to go; Branden Grace-No; Ian Poulter-Only steps it up at the Ryder Cup. Not winning here.
1:06 PM ET/12:06 PM CT: Jason Day- Yes, very much in the hunt to don a Green Jacket in Butler's Cabin Sunday; Matt Kuchar: Will be competitive, but don't see it happening; Ernie Els: Love the guy, but don't see him getting over the hump though he has played well here in the past.
2:01 PM ET/1:01 PM CT: Martin Kaymer: A little off his game right now. Won't be a factor this year; Bill Haas: Could be another darkhorse. I don't see him as interesting as Oosthuizen, Kisner, Thomas and Koepka, but could be relevant come Sunday; Rory McIlroy: For sure has a shot to be the sixth golfer to win the career Grand Slam joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack, Gary Player and Tiger.
The Backside at Augusta National will be a sizzling on Sunday afternoon on CBS
No.10: Par 4, 495 yards
A long hole that can play shorter if the drive catches the slope in the fairway. The second shot is critical here as the player hits to a green that is sloping right to left. Short right is in the sand trap and is a difficult up and down for par. Two of the most famous shots on this hole were Bubba Watson's wedge that he hooked 40 yards out of the woods on his second shot to 10 feet where he two putted for his first Green Jacket in 2012 in his playoff victory over Louis Oosthuizen. Adam Scott's 15 foot birdie putt in 2013 clinched his playoff victory over Angel Cabrera, the 2009 champion.
No.11: Par 4 505 yards
The beginning of Amen Corner (holes 11-13), this hole is a difficult, long par 4, that puts a premium on your approach shot. If the competitor misses to the left of the green, he is in the water. A lot of players will bail out to the right and try to get up and down for par. Par is a good score here. Larry Mize's famous chip in from 90 feet in a playoff with Greg Norman in 1987, was one of the most memorable Masters' moments in the history of the tournament. To me, this is the toughest hole on the course.
No.12: Par 3, 155 yards
This hole always tests a player's focus and resolve as there is almost always a prevailing wind that is either in the players face or at his back. Club selection and mental calmness under the storm are at a premium here. Fred Couples caught a huge break in 1992 on this hole when his ball held up on the bank and didn't go into Rae's Creek off his tee shot. That would have been devastating for Freddie. He got up and down and went on to win his only major title, though he also won 14 other times, including the 1996 Players Championship, the players' fifth major. Still, this was Fred's crowning achievement in golf.
No.13: Par 5, 510
An accurate tee shot to the center of the fairway sets up a player to go for it over a tributary of Rae's Creek that fronts the green. The second shot is another under the gun, clutchness challenge. There are four bunkers behind the putting surface. Short can be devastating on Sunday, as you're going swimming. Long can make for a difficult up and down for birdie. Birdie can be pretty critical here on Sunday for the players chasing, and for the player who is leading. One of the key moments in Masters history was Phil Mickelson's six iron out of the pine straw and through the trees to four feet in 2010. He missed his eagle putt, but he birdied, which helped Phil clinch his third Green Jacket.
No.14: Par 4, 440 yards
This is the only hole on the course without bunkers, but players must avoid trees on the left and right off the tee. The green is severely contoured and feeds the ball to the right. Phil holed out for eagle here on Saturday in 2010 during an eagle-eagle-birdie stretch that helped him get into the final group on Sunday in his victory that year. Bernhard Langer and chairman Billy Payne had an argument over 14 at a champions dinner several years ago. Langer got up and said there should be some changes to the 14th hole. Payne immediately interrupted and said, "This is not a place for this discussion. This dinner is over with." You don't mess with Augusta National.
No.15: Par 5, 530 yards
A cluster of pines on the right side of the fairway is coming into play so accuracy, hitting it down the pipe, is critical off the tee. The green can be reached in two with a good tee shot, but there is a pond in the front guarding the green and a bunker on the right side of the green. Even for those players laying up, the third shot requires a precision wedge. Tiger Woods was one shot back of the lead in 2013 when his wedge hit the flagstick and caromed into the water. He went back and dropped but there was a controversy on where he dropped the ball. He made bogey, but his incorrect drop was not discovered until after the round. He was allowed to stay in the tournament because of a committee error. Woods finished tied for fourth that year.
No.16: Par 3, 170 yards
The hole plays entirely over water and eventually bends to the left. Two bunkers guard the right side of the green and the green slopes significantly from right to left. The pin on Sunday is typically back left and on the lower shelf, so pars from the top shelf of the green are rare. Tiger Woods' amazing chip in 2005 in which his ball took a U turn and rolled toward the hole taking two seconds before dropping in the cup giving him a two shot lead over Chris DiMarco and the eventual victory is one of the more memorable shots in Masters history, but there have been so many on this hole.
No.17: Par 4, 440 yards
The tee shot is easier because the Eisenhower tree was lost to an ice storm in 2014. The green is protected by two bunkers in front. Jack sank his final birdie from 12 feet in 1986 to secure his 18th and final major at age 46. "Yes Sir!"
N0.18: Par 4 465 yards
One of the most demanding finishing holes in golf, this uphill dogleg right is protected off the tee by two deep bunkers down the fairway to the left about 280-285 yards out. The drive is through a chute between two sets of trees on the player's right and left sides. A middle iron is required on a highly tension filled approach shot. There is a bunker in front and on the right side of the green. Adam Scott birdied here in 2013 from 25 feet and Angel Cabrera followed him up with a birdie from four feet to set up a playoff which Scott won on No.10, the first playoff hole. It was a clutch city performance by both players. Jordan Spieth had a totally clutch flop shot here on Saturday last year, after a double on 17, that kept him four shots clear of the field. He went on to shoot 70 on Sunday and capture the Green Jacket at 21 years old.
Contenders:
Rickie Fowler
It's going to be windy and Rickie told Golf Channel he likes playing in the wind. He says he's used to it from playing at Oklahoma State. He's a really good putter when he's got it going. See no reason why he can't win.
Rory
Will definitely be in the hunt. Along with Jason Day, the best ball striker on tour, and along with Day, maybe the best ball striker of all time along with Tiger, too. Putter has to be working though.
Zach Johnson
The ultimate grinder, Zach can just wear you down if you're playing against him. Tough competitor. Like his chances.
Phil
Playing tremendous golf right now. Hasn't gotten over the hump since the 2013 Open Championship, but driving it as well as he ever has. Like Phil to be right there. Shot -14 to tie for second last year with Justin Rose behind Spieth. Won here in 2004, 2006 and 2010. That experience of winning here is critical.
Jason Day
Amazing talent. Has some physical issues at times, but proved last year that he is maybe the most elite player on tour right now. To back that up, he's won the WGC Match Play and the Arnie this season. This was a close one for my winning pick between this Australian and another.
But here's my winner
Like this 35 year old, who is playing the best golf of his career to put a Green Jacket in his closet after this year's 80th edition. He's a heckuva ball striker as well, and has shown he can putt as well as anybody on tour this season. The man from Down Under moved from the anchored putter to the short putter this year, per USGA rules, and has flourished, winning at the Honda Classic in late February and the WGC-Cadillac Championship in early March. He's won here already in 2013 defeating Angel Canbrera in a playoff. He's got Steve Williams on the bag, who knows something about winning at Augusta National as he did it with this fine gentleman in three years ago, and with Tiger in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Tiger won it in 1997 with Fluff Cowan on the bag, for his four Green Jackets. This Down Under native is used to playing in strong wind where he comes from, where the wind can howl on the course on many days at 20-30 MPH. Going with the 13 time winner on the PGA tour from Adelaide, Australia to capture his second Green Jacket.
Adam Scott
Like Adam to capture his second Green Jacket in four years.