The Masters: The case for and against 10 potential winners
Attention can officially turn towards the Masters with the Valero Texas Open well and truly underway now. After the first autumn Masters in the tournament’s illustrious history last November, the first Major in 2021 will resume its rightful place on the golfing calendar and officially usher in the Springtime season on April 8th.
Dustin Johnson will be aiming to defend the title he won last November and in doing so become the first back-to-back winner of the Masters since Tiger successfully defended at Augusta National in 2002. Should Johnson succeed he would join an elite and small list of players that accomplished the feat and join the likes of Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Sir Nick Faldo (1989-90), and of course Tiger Woods (2001-02) in the history books.
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Last years winner tops the list of players favored to win at Augusta next week according to the oddsmakers but in today’s game there are minute differences between the Worlds elite golfers, here is the case both for and against ten of the best in the game as they make the journey back to the iconic Augusta National next week.
The odds used in this article can be found online at popular betting sites, for more information on the best odds and sportsbook’s available locally to you check out The Action Network
Ten potential winners at the Masters
1. Dustin Johnson (+800)
Case for: Dustin Johnson didn’t just win last year, he dominated, and when all was said and done his five-shot margin of victory was the largest win at the Masters in the past decade. The 2020 Masters Champion has one of the best records at Augusta National on top of everything else finishing no worse than 10th in his last four starts on the iconic course. A month ago Dustin would have been the clear favorite and there isn’t much reason to think that he won’t again lap the field this time around as well.
Case against: Things have not exactly gone smoothly for Dustin in his last couple of starts as he stumbled to finishes of 54th and 48th where he was clearly struggling with the driver in both starts. Then there was the curious late commitment to playing the Valero Texas Open before deciding to withdraw before the event started, perhaps a sign he isn’t exactly happy with the state of his game at the moment?.
2. Jon Rahm (+1100)
Case for: Despite not having a win to his name in 2021 so far, Rahm has played some very nice golf this year with 4 of his 6 starts resulting in top-ten finishes. The Spaniard has the perfect game for Augusta National with his excellent tee-to-green game and superb short game as is evident by his three top 10’s in his last three starts at the Masters.
Case against: The equipment change to start the year has yet to result in a win for Rahm despite his consistent run of top 10’s. The Spaniard is also expecting the birth of his child at any moment and he has gone as far as to warn against people betting him at the Masters and upcoming events, indicating he would leave a tournament when the moment comes, and rightfully so.
3. Justin Thomas (+1100)
Case for: The PLAYERS Champion has gradually improved results each year at the Masters with a 22nd, 17th, 12th, and 4th in his last four starts at Augusta National. Perhaps a real reflection on the work he has put in at previous Masters practice rounds with Fred Couples and Tiger Woods. Justin’s tee-to-green and approach numbers have been off the chart in recent starts as well, with only the putter letting him down on occasion.
Case against: When Thomas has struggled this year it’s been due to errant drives and the putter not cooperating. Justin struggled at the Genesis Invitational in February when he missed the cut while losing strokes in each of those categories.
4. Bryson DeChambeau (+1100)
Case for: There won’t be many coming into this Masters with better recent form than Bryson after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and 3rd place finish at THE PLAYERS the week after. Everyone will be aware of the insane amount of power that DeChambeau carries now but he has also shown a real tactical awareness to dial it back when required, illustrating this magnificently especially in recent starts. There is a real chance that the second time around Augusta National with the “new” Bryson proves to be the charm.
Case against: DeChambeau doesn’t have the best track record around Augusta National even having had made the cut in his last four starts here. Bryson’s best finish at the Masters is just 21st back in 2016.
5. Jordan Spieth (+1200)
Case for: The Spieth renaissance is real in 2021 with three top-five finishes in his last five starts. The 2015 Masters winner has straightened out his problem’s with the driver and struck his irons superbly resulting in his name appearing at the top of leaderboards time and time again this year. Combine all of this with his magnificent course history at Augusta National and look out!.
Case against: Despite the numerous amount of times that Spieth has found himself in contention in 2021, he is still searching for that breakthrough win, a win that would be his first since 2017. There will also always be the fear that those inaccuracies with the driver that plagued him for so long reemerge at the worst possible moments.
6. Rory Mcllroy (+1600)
Case for: It’s difficult to be positive about where Rory’s game is at right now but he does at least come into this Masters with one of the best course history records in the entire field. Mcllroy has two top 5 finishes in two of his last three starts at Augusta National, including a 5th place finish just several months ago. Perhaps the change in coaches will yield positive early results for Rory at a place he clearly loves.
Case against: It’s been a struggle this year for Mcllroy and he already has two missed cuts in 2021, a feat that one of the best players in the World is not familiar with. Even the ever-consistent driver has let him down numerous times already this year. While not impossible, it’s hard to imagine that it all suddenly clicks into place at a tournament where there is already so much pressure for him to win and complete the career grand slam.
7. Patrick Cantlay (+2200)
Case for: Cantlay seemingly has the perfect mixture of form this year and course history coming into this Masters. There won’t be many that can lay claim to having just one bad start this year, with just one missed cut and the rest of his starts resulting in top 20 finishes including two times inside of the top five, Cantlay sure can.
Case against: All of the excellent performances in 2021 for Patrick have yet to result in a win, and there will be some concern that he may have missed his window of opportunity with his two worst starts of the year coming at his last two events.
8. Xander Schauffele (+2200)
Case for: Was a runner-up at the Masters just two years ago and consistently shows up on golf’s biggest stages. Xander started this year on fire with three top 5 finishes in his first three starts before cooling off a bit. There are few in golf that have a more complete game than Schauffele and he ranks 13th in tee to green in 2021.
Case against: Schauffele has not been great in recent starts having missed his first cut in well over a year at THE PLAYERS after finishing in the lower half of the field at the WGC Workday before that. Like Cantlay there is some fear that Xander may have missed his window of opportunity to win while he was in great form, as the two-year wait without a win continues on.
9. Collin Morikawa (+2800)
Case for: The WGC-Workday Champion is having a fantastic season thus far and there won’t be many that are more accurate with the driver and have a better approach game than Morikawa, imagine if this guy could consistently putt well?!. Collin has already proved in his young career that he is a big game hunter, winning both a PGA Championship and World Golf Championship before the age of 25, would it be that much of a surprise if he also added a green jacket early in his golfing career?.
Case against: When he can’t putt it’s a problem, as it was when on full display at THE PLAYERS when he could not buy a putt. The change in putting grips earlier this year has delivered a rollercoaster of results so far for Morikawa and at Augusta National that could prove to be a big big problem.
10. Patrick Reed (+3300)
Case for: Another winner on Tour earlier this year at Torrey Pines (albeit in somewhat controversial fashion) Reed is one of the best putters in the World and that is no different this season as he currently ranks 2nd in the category on the PGA Tour. The 2018 Masters winner has usually played very well at Augusta National and he was 10th here last Autumn.
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Case against: The switch to a new swing coach last year has produced positive results with Reed’s approach game, but his driver has yet to catch up to the change. Patrick ranked 38th on Tour in strokes gained off the tee in 2020, but that is down to just 81st so far in 2021. The American will need to see an improvement in that category if he is to compete for another win at the Masters.