2021 Masters week: They’re coming in hot
By Bill Felber
T-7. Patrick Cantlay, 20.60
Like Homa, Cantlay missed the cut in his most recent start, the Players. But his performance sheet prior to that justifies his position among the field’s hot players.
Aside from the Players, Cantlay has not finished outside the top 15 in 2021. He tied for 15th at the Genesis, for third at the ATT, took second at the American Express and tied for 13th at the Tournament of Champions.
The world’s 10th rated player, Cantlay has put together a 69.06 stroke average in his most recent 18 rounds, with scores as low as 61 in the final round of the American Express and 62 in the first round of the ATT. He’s averaging nearly three strokes below par for every 18 holes during the calendar year.
T-7. Bryson Dechambeau, 20.60
DeChambeau is the Tour’s only two-time winner this season, with victories at the delayed U.S. Open and then – in March – at the Palmer. He backed that up with a tie for third at the Players.
There is nobody in golf more feared than DeChambeau when he’s in a good groove.
The world’s fifth ranked player, DeChambeau’s five most recent stroke play starts also include a tie for 22nd at the WGC Workday and for seventh at the Tournament of Champions. The one blemish is a missed cut at the Genesis.
His round-by-round performance can be volatile. DeChambeau’s most recent 18 rounds include a 75 and a 77, either of which would kill his title chances at Augusta. Still his 69.5 stroke average over that span is about 2.5 strokes under par. That’s hot.