Diane Knox Balas
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It’s time for the first major of 2023. It’s always the most anticipated week on the golf calendar, and this year the excitement is heightened for many reasons.
The Masters is based on traditions, and we’re accustomed to seeing the same elements year after year. However, this year, there’s an air of disruption with the arrival of the exempt LIV golfers. For the first time since The Open, we’re going to see the best players in the world from both sides of the argument go up against each other.
18 golfers from LIV will tee it up this week, including former Masters champions Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel, in addition to Cam Smith, Brooks Koepka (who won last week on the LIV Tour in Orlando) and Bryson DeChambeau. Can you imagine if we have Rory v DJ , or Rahm v Smith, showdown heading down the stretch on Sunday?! Whatever the eventual outcome, there’s going to be hints of drama this week. Oh to be a fly on the wall at the Champions Dinner on Tuesday!
Personally, I think it’s going to be interesting to see how the LIV golfers games stack up against the likes of Scheffler, Rahm and McIlroy – players we’ve seen play a lot of golf in 2023. I haven’t watched as much of the LIV events, and we don’t have stats for any of the guys, therefore don’t really know how to make a comparison at present. However, looking at last year’s Masters leaderboard, six of the LIV golfers who are playing this week finished within the top-15. Cameron Smith is one LIV golfer that’s going to be on a lot of people’s radars. He’s played in the Masters six times and has four top-10 finishes, including a T3 last year and a runner-up in 2020.
Aside from the LIV guys, we also have the Tiger in the pack! Woods was out nice and early on Monday morning, playing alongside Rory. If you fancy a longshot, Tiger is +8500 to win and +700 for a top-10. He’s truly gifted when it comes to strategizing his way around Augusta National.
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Augusta National: What you need to know
Augusta National is possibly the most well-known course in the world. If you’ve seen it on TV and played it on video games, I’m sure you’re very familiar with the course layout. What you may not know is the course is a lot hillier than you may think and the green complexes look much more undulated when you’re standing on property.
It takes a smart player to plot their way around AGNC. There’s a lot of subtle nuances that the experienced players have learned how to navigate. Players really have to demonstrate shot-shaping creativity and will find themselves on a great deal of uneven ground. There’s only ever been one rookie champion – Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 – but Will Zalatoris came very close two years ago, finishing one shot shy of the win, and the green jacket.
It’s really great now that we get to see Augusta National the week prior to the Masters at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and it always looks sensational – as you’d expect. Last year, modifications meant the 86th edition played as the longest Masters ever, and this year there’s been an additional, notable length change. The par-5 13th hole, named Azalea, has a new tee box and now stretches to 545 yards. It’s really tight off the tee and will challenge players to make some sort of risk-reward decision when picking a club. It’s going to be fun to watch.
It’s important to note that the weather forecast for the week looks pretty dismal. Rain and thunderstorms forecast every day of the tournament, with temperates in the 50s over the weekend. Augusta National does have this high-tech sub-air system which helps them manage the course conditions, but the weather may open this major up a little more than usual.
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Knox’s Knockout Masters Picks
Rory McIlroy (+750 at FanDuel)
I’m doing it; I’m picking McIlroy to finally win the Masters and be gifted that elusive green jacket on Sunday. From the “big 3” it’s hard to overlook Scheffler, who’s defending champion, won The Players last month and just lost out in a place in the Match Play final a few weeks ago, but I want Rory’s dream to come true this week. Sure, the odds are small, however after his phenomenal Sunday and runner-up finish last year, plus all the heat surrounding the PGA Tour/LIV drama, I think Rory will walk to the first tee on Thursday with a whole load of confidence and more determination than ever before.
Dustin Johnson (+2800 at FanDuel)
I’m not going to lie, it feels good to be able to talk about picking DJ to win a major. Out of all the LIV guys, he’s the one I’m going with and I really like these odds. As I said above, I haven’t watched much of the LIV action but the 2020 Masters champion knows Augusta National better than anyone, having competed here twelve times before, with four top-10s outside that victory. When looking at current form, he’s been in the mix at pretty much every LIV event apart from two or three, and just finished 7th in Orlando last week. I can’t see DJ getting involved in any of the “drama” and think he’ll be there to just play his game and remind everyone what he’s capable of.
Jason Day (+2800 at BetRivers)
I’ve been so big on Jason Day this year and we’ve really seen him find some amazing, consistent form. Top-20 in every single event he’s played in 2023, with five top-10s and strokes gained on the greens in every tournament. He’s had three top-5s at the Masters and would love to add to his major tally. This is the one they all want to win, and Australians have good history here due to the creativity it takes to score. Day may be my outright favorite of them all this week.
Will Zalatoris (+4500 at BetRivers)
I’m not going to go too far down the odds board for my outright picks this week, but I do love 45/1 for Zalatoris. It’s hardly surprising his odds are higher than usual, as he hasn’t done much since his T4 finish at the Genesis back in February. In fact, his best finish in the three events he’s played since then is 53rd. However, Will has finished runner-up and T6 in this pair of Masters appearances. So much is made of his putting, and he’s lost a significant number of strokes on the field in his last three events, but his stats around Augusta National are great – and these are tough greens to putt on. I’m hoping this week is a return to form for Zalatoris.
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