Masters Confidential: Mega preview unveils favorites, storylines, sleepers

Welcome to a pre-Masters edition of Tour Confidential, where you’ll read the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors ahead of the play at Augusta National (and you can join the conversation, too, by tweeting us at @golf_com). 

1. Let’s come out firing here: Who wins this thing?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Rory McIlroy. It’s bad luck to be superstitious and I’ve decided that he is not, in fact, cursed here. He just needed to dial in those half-wedges. This is the year.

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): Scottie Scheffler. His game appears to be rounding into form at just the right time. His putter showed encouraging signs of life in Houston, and when Scheffler’s flatstick is on, there’s no stopping him.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): McIlroy and Scheffler are THE picks, for sure. But I’m going to go with Collin Morikawa. The saying goes Augusta’s a second-shot golf course, and Morikawa’s one of the best second-shotters. I also like that he’s posted nothing but top 20s in his five starts this year, including two runner-up finishes, and that he tied for third at last year’s Masters.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): Sorry to make this a broken record, but I like Rory this time. He’s playing better than anyone and still doesn’t seem like he has had his full game yet this year.

2. Let’s keep the momentum going. Who surprisingly doesn’t contend?

Sens: Brooks Koepka. We’ve come to count him to be in the mix in the majors, but I predict the putter betrays him.

Marksbury: I’ll go with another LIV player: Jon Rahm. During his PGA Tour years, he always seemed to be in the mix at the majors, but last year, he was pretty lackluster: T45 at the Masters, cut at the PGA, didn’t play the U.S. Open, and was T7 at the Open Championship. That was a solid showing, but he was eight shots behind Xander Schauffele’s winning tally.

Piastowski: Man, it’d be cruel to say McIlroy here, right? I won’t, but just wanted to say it. I’ll go with the easy pick and say Viktor Hovland. He himself has said his game is still redeveloping.

Hirsh: You wanna talk cruel, I think Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t just not contend, I say he misses the cut. I feel like no one was expecting anything out of Bryson at last year’s Masters and lest we forget he missed the cut the two previous seasons. He missed the cut at the Open after his victory at Pinehurst and he also hasn’t really contended on LIV this season.

3. Gimme a super sleeper pick!

Marksbury: Maverick McNealy. He’s playing some of the best golf of his career, and is now ranked 16th in the world. He has no Augusta data to mine, since he’s making his debut this year. But with three top-10s on his resume already this season, I feel good about his prospects.

Piastowski: He’s not terribly down the odds board, but I think Shane Lowry contends. Augusta also demands you manage your misses, and Lowry’s capable there. I’m going to throw some love for Rafa Campos, too. A Masters first-timer at the age of 36, he’d make for a pretty great story if he stuck around for the weekend.

Hirsh: How does Keegan Bradley have worse odds (+12,500) than both McNealy and Lowry? He’s the 14th-best player in the world and playing like it! He’s going to make the Ryder Cup conversation so difficult for himself.

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4. Who’s the major-less player with the best chance to win this week?

Marksbury: Ludvig Aberg. The hype machine is running at full steam for the superstar Swede, and why not, after his runner-up performance in his Augusta debut last year.

Piastowski: I agree with Jess. For conversation sake, I’ll add Robert MacIntyre. I think he’ll win at Augusta at some point. 

Hirsh: Way to steal the best one, Jess! Let’s go with Joaquin Niemann. He still doesn’t have a top-15 in a major, but you figure that’s only a matter of time (and continuing to earn starts) before he breaks through. I don’t think he’ll win this week, but he’ll at least get a top-10.

5. Who’s a newcomer to watch?

Marksbury: In addition to McNealy, whom I mentioned above, I’m excited to watch Thomas Detry. His impressive win at the WM Phoenix Open — and sweet victory moment on the green with his family — made me a fan.

Piastowski: I like the McNealy thought, too. And the Detry thought! I’m also curious to watch Brian Campbell, who, statistically, is the PGA Tour’s shortest hitter. 

Hirsh: It’s got to be Rasmus Hojgaard, right? Five-time DP World Tour winner, he has to be among the most accomplished first-timers this year.

6. Which over-40 player do you like the best?

Marksbury: Forty-four-year-old Justin Rose. Nineteen career appearances and 14 top-25s, including two runner-ups. An awesome record.

Piastowski: To win? I’ll cheat a little and go with Dustin Johnson, age 40. But to show up and B.S. and draw cheers? Fred Couples, age 65.

Hirsh: Twelve years after his breakthrough win, Adam Scott, 44, has played some really good golf to get firmly back in the world top-50. I could see him finding that form again this week.

7. What’s the storyline you’re looking forward to seeing play out the most?

Sens: Rory McIlroy. Once again he comes to Augusta playing so well, only this time he has even more major championship heartache on his record. The career grand slam is still up for grabs. There’s no more compelling story, in my humble opinion.

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Marksbury: Agree, Josh, Rory is always top of mind at Augusta. But I’m also very interested in Scheffler. Defending is so hard, it’s been done by only three players: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. I think Scottie will add himself to that list this year.

Piastowski: I like the Scheffler thought. As part of a Masters project I’m working on, I watched his first round from last year, and it was sublime. To add another storyline, I’ll go with Bernhard Langer’s goodbye. Does he break down? What will the patron reaction be? Does he play the weekend?

Hirsh: I think the golf course is a more unknown variable than ever before given the damage sustained after the hurricane last fall. If players start commenting that they are noticing differences in the wind and are trying different shots because of some missing trees, we could be in for an interesting week.

8. Next week’s interview schedule has been released. Those speaking are: Augusta chairman Fred Ridley, followed by Xander Schauffele, amateurs Justin Hastings and Hiroshi Tai, Bernhard Langer, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, twin brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau Scottie Scheffler, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson. What’s a question you’re hoping to ask one of them?

Sens: Gary Player. Who should be the next ceremonial starter?

Marksbury: Bernhard Langer: As you reflect on playing your last Masters, which memory stands out the most?

Piastowski: To Rory: Have you allowed yourself to picture what Sunday night after winning the Masters feels like?

Hirsh: To Viktor Hovland: Have you considered withdrawing again this week?

9. As he recovers from a torn left Achilles tendon, Tiger Woods will not play in this year’s Masters. The Achilles is also the latest in a series of injuries, so the question is: To what capacity do you see Woods at the Masters going forward?

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Marksbury: Tiger will tee it up every year he can. And as long as he maintains his length, he may even conjure some competitive magic for years to come. But getting healthy again will be the main priority.

Piastowski: I say he plays next year, maybe a few years after that, then bows out, in one of the greatest scenes you’ll see. He’ll return each year in some capacity, though.

Hirsh: Tough to say given that Augusta is such a demanding walk. I’d honestly just like to see him relax and play the Par-3 Contest.

10. There are no shortages of great viewing spots at Augusta National. What’s your favorite?

Marksbury: On my first trip to the Masters, I planted myself at the top of the grandstand at Amen Corner and stayed there for about five hours. I got an epic sunburn — and a viewing experience I still cherish.

Piastowski: I kinda sneakily like the spot behind the 14th tee, if you can squeeze in. It’s a good place to watch the tee shots, and you can see balls coming toward the 13th green. If I remember correctly, there’s also a concession stand nearby.

Hirsh: I have yet to attend, but I love the 13th hole, so somewhere on that side of Amen Corner.

11. What’s your favorite Masters tradition, either your own or from someone else?

Marksbury: This year is the first year my daughter has watched chunks of weekend golf broadcasts and started asking questions about the players and who’s winning. This year, I’m excited for her to take in the full pomp and circumstance of Masters Sunday, which, with our early viewing window in Arizona, we always observe with a load of snacks. But for the first time ever, she’ll also have her own weekly golf clinic to attend before we tune in.

Piastowski: I mean, why even bother responding to this after Jess’ answer? Me saying I like to eat all the sandwiches is nowhere near as good as her tradition! 

Hirsh: There’s something special about racing around the golf course on the weekend mornings and then crashing on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. The sign of golf season. This year, I have my own competition on Saturday morning, too.

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12. What’s something viewers either at home or on the grounds should watch for?

Sens: Rory’s body language. How he bounces or slouches around a golf course reveals so much.

Marksbury: I’ve always enjoyed watching the way putts just drip, drip, drip into the hole, past the hole, off the green or into the water at Augusta. The greens are just so, so fast and undulating. Like no other course!

Piastowski: The wind. How do the pros handle the gusts after the tree damage?

Hirsh: Given what we saw at the Valspar, will pros be able to handle their composure in front of the Green Jackets?!

13. Lastly, what’s the food item you’re looking forward to purchasing?

Sens: Sniff. I won’t be there. But missing out on the food is not the sad part. I mean, the prices are great, but I can make a better sandwich at home.

Marksbury: Same, Josh! I’ll be watching from home with the masses. But you can’t go wrong with chicken salad. 

Piastowski: As noted above, all of the sandwiches! And the cookies. And the Crow’s Nest beer. All while I’m writing and recording for GOLF.com, of course [cc: my bosses].

Hirsh: Hey, why is Nick the only one of us who gets to go? I’m a sucker for an ice cream sandwich so gotta try that Georgia peach ice cream sandwich.