The 88th Masters begins on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. We already made all of our picks to win and sleepers to watch here. But a lot can change in those crucial lead-up days to the first round. Who looks good on-site? What are we hearing? Who is peaking? Here are a handful of players we think are trending in the right direction.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): I’m kinda feelin’ Rickie Fowler! He’s definitely flying a bit under the radar. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since we last saw him tee it up at Augusta National. But he has a great record here: only one missed cut in 10 appearances, and an impressive five top-12 finishes, including a runner-up in 2018. His play has cooled a bit since he emerged from a lengthy slump in dramatic fashion last year, but I can’t help but feel that this week could ignite another nice run — and maybe even his first major.
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Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): The great number of golf-savvy people who have told me to take Wyndham Clark makes me think that I should absolutely, positively NOT take Wyndham Clark, given my experience with so-called expert punditry. All that said, Clark will probably win. He certainly has the mental and physical makeup for it, and he has been in good form.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I picked Scottie Scheffler to win this week and Brooks Koepka was my No. 2 choice, but that press conference we got from Brooks on Tuesday — he seemed confident, poised and even slightly annoyed — was the type of Brooks that piled up a ton of majors years ago. It reiterated to me that I like him a lot this week.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Thursday is looking stormy. So softer. Augusta could be gotten, so I want a ball-striker. I always also want someone who has experience. Let’s add Hideki Matsuyama to the pick mix. His Riviera final round will go down as one of the best — maybe this decade. He can fire. I hesitate because there’s word he’s hurting some, but he’s here so let’s go with it. This all said, I still don’t mind Bryson DeChambeau. I still think Xander Schauffele will contend. I still think Brian Harman will win a green jacket within the next five years. But Matsuyama could win his second Masters this year.
