The first round of The Masters is just around the corner and
fans are hard picked to tip a favourite.
The first round of The Masters is just around the corner and
fans are hard picked to tip a favourite.
The World’s best players are all in peak form; with multiple players being discussed as a hot contender to claim the Green Jacket.
World Number 1 Jason Day is claiming plenty of attention, so is fellow Aussie Adam Scott, both having won back-to-back tournaments already this year.
Then you have defending champion Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson who can never be underestimated at Augusta.
Phil Mickelson comes into the tournament in good form and has fans buzzing while Rory McIlroy seems more focused than ever to claim the Major that has eluded him.
Famous for the company he keeps during the par-3 competition, think Caroline Wozniacki and One Direction’s Niall Horan, this year McIlroy has elected to miss the fun filled day to concentrate more fully on the task at hand.
Then add to the list of inform names; Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Louis Oosthuizen, gone are the days where there was a clear tournament favourite.
"It’s been well documented leading into this Masters, there are probably ten, 12, 15 guys that have a real shot at winning this tournament, even with the standard of golf that high," said Adam Scott in his pre-tournament media conference.
"Whereas before, Tiger set the benchmark, Tiger controlled the outcome so much in some way."
"I lived through the Tiger dominance, we all just felt at times we were playing for second."
According to Scott, this week shows how the game has changed and evolved and it’s the new generation who continue to push the level of his own game.
"I think it’s a different point in the game. I think it’s going to be awhile before, or if ever, we see dominance like we saw from Tiger Woods. The game has changed even in the last six or seven years since Tiger won his last major championship in lots of different ways."
"The way I see it, it’s just the continued evolution of the game. Professional golf is in such a good spot at the moment, especially with guys like Jason and Jordan and Rory at the top of the world."
"I think they’re great ambassadors for golf, incredible talents, pushing the bar even higher in the game for me to try to keep up with them and a whole bunch of other guys."
Defending champion Jordan Spieth is looking to the World Number 1 saying, "Isn’t Jason the favourite in my mind? He can be the favourite. I’ll just go ahead and do my thing."
But Day was quick to shift the label and place the attention back on others in the field.
"To be honest, I don’t think I’m the favorite this week," said Day.
"There’s a lot of people out there that can play well this week and win, Jordan and Rory and Henrik, how he’s playing lately, and even Phil is a favorite here."
"There’s so many players that can win around here, and there’s not just one heavy favorite this week, which is fantastic. I think it’s good for the game of golf and I think it’s good for this tournament, as well."
"I’m excited about the week. I’m excited about getting ready and preparing and getting the week underway."
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