Editor’s Note: This is a collaborative piece by Sportsnaut’s Derek White and Greg Vara of Rotowire and Yahoo Sports.
This week brings us one of the best annual events in sports, the Masters. Golf’s best gathering at Augusta National is one of the sure signs that Spring is upon us. For many in United States, the Masters can’t come fast enough.
With Tiger Woods out of the field due to injury, who from the wide-open field might emerge to take home the green jacket? We’re going to focus on three groups of players: past Masters champions, veterans looking for their first green jacket, and younger players looking to burst on to the scene with a Masters victory.
Previous Masters Champion: Derek’s pick – Zach Johnson
The Iowawegian has just one major victory in his career, the 2007 Masters. That’s shocking considering how often he’s in the hunt. Johnson has 11 career victories and is consistent as all can be. The early reports out of Augusta National seem to have the course playing extremely tough this week. That might play into Johnson’s strengths, as he’s not a long player off the tee, but he doesn’t blow up either.
Johnson hasn’t missed a cut in the 2014 PGA Tour season. He has four top-10 finishes, along with a victory at the Hyndaui Tournament of Champions. Something about Johnson’s play this year, combined with a wide-open field, makes him an intriguing pick this week to win his second green jacket.
Previous Masters Champion: Greg’s pick – Phil Mickelson
“Kuch,” with all the success he’s had over his career, has only won six PGA Tour events. Kuchar does have that all important label of “Major Champion” with a victory at the 2012 PGA Championship. He’s really found his groove over the past handful of seasons, and in 12 events this season, he’s finished in the top-10 nine times, missing the cut only once. He may be quiet and not flashy (in fact, he may not own more than three different colored Bridgestone hats), but he’s mega consistent. Also, Kuchar is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Matt Jones this past weekend at the Shell Houston Open. Perhaps that’s made him even more focused on getting that green jacket.
Players ready to burst on to the scene: Derek’s pick – Jordan Spieth
Die-hard golf fans will argue that Spieth burst on to the scene in 2013 when he racked up $3,879,820 as a rookie. This is Spieth’s second year on tour and his first Masters tournament. Normally, that doesn’t bode well. As a rookie, Spieth won once and finished in the top-10 nine times in 23 events. That’s a great year for any golfer. He’s already won $1,829,223 in 11 events in 2014, and his stardom potential is bursting at the seams. With Tiger out, Phil Michelson not 100 percent, and Rory McIlroy not living up to the hype he built two years ago, the sports world may find their new golf star if Spieth is able to win at Augusta National this week.
Players ready to burst on to the scene: Greg’s pick – Gary Woodland
Woodland has experienced a lot in his short career on the PGA Tour. He had early success only to be derailed by injury and subsequently struggled to regain his form. Now that he’s apparently back on top of his game, it’s time for Woodland to take the next step, which is of course, contending at a major. Woodland has plenty of game to be a factor this week and he proved that he could get around this course when he posted a top-25 in his first start at the Masters in 2011.
Greg Vara is the lead fantasy golf writer at RotoWire. in 2013 Greg was named FSWA Fantasy Golf Writer of the year. In addition to producing the weekly preview and the bulk of the draft kit content, he also picks college football games against the spread in his “College Capper” article. Greg Vara is also a Devilball blogger for Yahoo Sports.
Photo: Jack Gruber, USA Today