When anticipating what might happen at The Masters, it’s always good to be able to ask those who have been there as contestants.
Thankfully, ESPN arranged a conference call for those of us in the industry to get some insight from two of their Masters commentators, Andy North and Curtis Strange, both of whom have won two U.S. Opens.
Each offered up opinions on who might do well, the Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy matchup, and others who might stop either of them, including the LIV Golf players who are set to tee it up at Augusta National.
So, let's get into a few of the topics that were discussed.
Bernhard Langer is set for his final Masters appearance
When it was mentioned that this year marks two-time green jacket winner Bernhard Langer’s last Masters, both Strange and North recalled playing against him.
“He's going to be competing against these young kids next week hitting 4-woods and hybrids into every green, and it wouldn't shock me if he ended up making the cut,” North said, calling Langer one of the greatest competitors ever in the game.
“Incredible record, but when he got to 50, how do you stay involved, focused, your intensity, your desire,” Strange wondered. “How do you keep all those things going until 67 or 68 years old? I don't know because I couldn't.”
Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy vs. The field
Both North and Strange are looking forward to seeing how Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy do, whether they will eventually play against each other in the final round, or whether someone else will step up.
“Rory seems to be hitting on all cylinders, which is a good thing for the Slam,” Strange said, assuming everyone knew The Masters was the last leg left in McIlroy's completing the career Grand Slam. “Scottie going for three in a row, then Xander and Morikawa, a few others playing well. It's hard to get past the first two or three, honestly.”
North was looking in several directions as well.
“I'm excited to see what Scottie and Rory do. Also, kind of looking forward to the LIV guys,” North noted. “But you're looking to see what DeChambeau and Rahm and Niemann, the guys who have been playing pretty well, see how they stack up next week.”
Scheffler, Strange suggested, may be suffering from impatience. At this time last year, he had already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. Scheffler’s best finish this year is the T2 this past Sunday at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
He must be feeling like he’s back-peddling, running in place, and otherwise stalled. Impatience is a good word for it. Or frustration. The world No. 1 must remember how well he played in the recent past and is chomping at the bit trying to get there again in a hurry.
North said McIlroy’s putting was better at The Players than his past performances there.
“The one thing that's usually hurt Rory is, he'd miss one of those six- or eight-footers at a critical time on the back nine on Sunday or at a key time,” North recalled.
One name he thought we couldn’t fail to mention is Ludvig Åberg, who finished second last year in his Masters debut.
While Strange agreed with North’s assessment, he cautioned us not to forget about Sepp Straka. Though it seemed like an out-of-left-field pick, who are we to argue with a man who has won back-to-back US Opens?
“I like to think Straka’s got the best backswing in golf, I think, so efficient, so accurate and playing very, very consistent golf,” Strange insisted.
Strange also likes Aberg, although he noted that those who have played the course for many years pick up nuances, the kind of knowledge that only comes with a history at the course. He is also fond of Shane Lowry’s game.
Neither of them can figure out how Viktor Hovland went from nowhere to winning in Tampa.
Bryson DeChambeau was the LIV Golf player who stood out most
The LIV player that stood out to both of them was reigning U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau.
“I guess whatever Bryson does doesn't surprise me because he does have this wonderful ability,” Strange explained. “He has all the length in the world. If he has a good driving week, it's hard to beat somebody that hits it that far.”
But he added that all big hitters have an advantage.
“It wouldn't shock me a bit if he went around there and won by four or five shots,” North noted. “But at the same time, he hasn't had a great record there over the years, and I think that can change.”
DeChambeau tied for sixth a year ago, marking his only top-10 finish in eight trips to Augusta.
Amazingly, neither of them mentioned Brooks Koepka, who finished seventh or better three times in the last six years and was twice a runner-up (2019, 2023).