Pro Golf Now: 2015 Masters Could Be The Perfect Storm
By Les Bailey
Apr 13, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; Bubba Watson addresses the crowd while wearing the green jacket after winning the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 Masters is shaping up to possibly being the Perfect Storm of professional golf! I have waited for years to see a match-up between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, or Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in a major golf tournament with a chance to win on Sunday afternoon. Wouldn’t it be even better if all three came to the 10th tee at Augusta National on Sunday, with a chance to win a Green Jacket?
The Pro Golf Now Fantasy!
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is getting healthy, and looks to have his golf game going in a positive direction. Tiger will be 39 years-old by April, and will show up at Augusta looking to end a streak that hasn’t seen him win a major golf tournament since he beat Rocco Mediate in the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008.
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Wouldn’t it be a great story for golf fans if Tiger could return to the site of his first major in 1997, with almost the same swing , and slip on that fifth Green Jacket?
The short game we saw at Isleworth will not get Tiger into my fantasy threesome in April, but we all know that he is a workaholic, and will sort that out before he gets to Augusta.
I had written before Tiger’s five-win season of 2013 that if he didn’t win a major that year, he would never beat Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major wins. I am standing by that prediction, but I didn’t say that he would never win another major. I think it would be great for golf, and fans like myself, if he could make a legitimate run at the record. And what could be better than that run starting at Augusta?
In fact, after the 2012 season where he under-performed with his wedges, Tiger put in the off-season work, and by the time he arrived at Augusta in 2013, had them on a laser.
You might remember, that was the year he hit the flag stick at 15 on Friday, took the improper drop, and suffered the penalty. There were people, including Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee who though he should withdraw, or be disqualified. He went on to shoot 73 in that round, and finished T4.
I think Tiger was playing well enough to win number 15 that week, and the fact he was hitting those wedges so well, is what got him into trouble at the beautiful par five.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy will be coming to Augusta with one thing on his mind. The Career Slam, a fifth major, and a third consecutive major championship. All before he turns 26 in May.
What else can we say about the youngster from Northern Ireland? He has all the tools needed to win a Green Jacket, and avenge the debacle that was the infamous 2011 back-nine meltdown.
Rory’s success lies in his driver. If he is banging those monster tee-shots down the middle, he can become unbeatable. With a 310.5 yard average, and 59% accuracy rating, the only thing he needs to win this thing is a putter that is working right.
The putter seems to take on a day off now and then, but if he starts dropping putts, there isn’t anyone on the planet that can beat him. History, however, tells us that when he is comfortable with the driver, the putts follow.
During the 2011 meltdown, Rory shot 65 in the opening round, and after shooting a one over 37 on the front in Sundays action, still had the lead. He shot 80 on the back-nine, and gave the tournament to Charl Schwartzel. He finished T8 last year.
It’s been a while since Rory completed the hat-trick to win the Open Championship, the Bridgestone Invitational, and the PGA Championship. The big question comes down to, will he arrive in Augusta with the fire in his belly, and his A-Game?
Phil Mickelson
The last guy in my fantasy threesome is Phil Mickelson. Obviously, Phil doesn’t need a Masters win to complete his career slam, but he does play well at Augusta, and has three Green Jackets to prove it.
Aug 10, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; PGA golfer Phil Mickelson on the 5th tee during the final round of the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Lefty had the worse season of his career in 2014, and will be looking to show some improvement this year. What would be a better place to start than at the Masters?
You can never tell when Phil is going to wake up in the morning, and have his golf game. The one thing we do know however, is he loves the Masters, he loves the tradition, and he loves Augusta National.
In 2012, as Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen were going off to decide a winner, Phil was high-fiving the fans on the way to the scoring tent, knowing he was not going to join the playoff, and finished T3. You would have thought by watching him, he was on the way to the playoff.
Phil missed the cut in 2014, and finished T54 in 2013.
The only question that faces Phil, is his age, and health. I’m convinced that Phil was not healthy in 2014, and we should know by his performance at the Phoenix Open this year, if he is again ready to compete for a Green Jacket in April. I know his eye is on the US Open in 2014, but I’m sure he would take another Masters Championship if the opportunity arises.
Other Options
Although a dream playoff at Augusta between Tiger, Rory and Phil would be my fantasy match-up, let’s not forget that Bubba Watson plays well on the famous course. With two Green Jackets in his locker, he might have something to say about the 2015 edition.
Bubba had two wins in 2014 which included the Masters, and the Northern Open to go along with a WGC win at the HSBC Champions during the wrap season. He is playing well now, and has to be a favorite going to Augusta in April.
Jordan Spieth will arrive in Augusta looking to avenge his 2014 loss to Bubba, with two very impressive wins at the end of the season that included runaway victories at the Australian Open, and The Hero Challenge.
I can’t wait to get the this season underway. They can’t get to Kapalua fast enough for me. We know the wind will blow on Maui, and that will be the start of the Perfect Storm that should hit Augusta in April!