The Augusta National Golf Club is once again hosting The Masters Tournament. Practice rounds have begun, building anticipation for the event.
The tournament officially kicks off on Thursday, April 9, culminating in the final round on Sunday, April 12.
Woods Absent from Augusta
Tiger Woods, a five-time champion at Augusta National, has declined his invitation this year. He will also not be attending the Champions Dinner.
Woods announced last week he would be stepping away from golf for an unknown period to address health issues. This follows his arrest and DUI charge after a car accident on March 27.
Early Predictions for the Green Jacket
Will Cheney of the Augusta Chronicle and USA TODAY Sports predicts Justin Rose will win, potentially in a playoff. He highlights Rose’s experience, noting this will be his 21st start at Augusta, and his previous losses in two Masters playoffs.
Dhani Joseph, also of the Augusta Chronicle, believes Rory McIlroy will win, achieving back-to-back victories. Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have won it back-to-back times.
Potential Surprises and Disappointments
Cheney suggests Ben Griffin could make a significant impact in his first start at Augusta. He cites Griffin’s consistent performance leading up to the tournament, including victories at the Zurich Classic, the Charles Schwab Challenge, and the World Wide Technology Championship.
Joseph, however, anticipates Xander Schauffele will fall outside the top 10, despite his strong record in previous starts at Augusta.
Big Name to Miss the Cut?
Cheney predicts Jordan Spieth will miss the cut. Despite a strong start to his Masters career, Spieth’s recent performances at Augusta National have been inconsistent.
Joseph predicts Despi will miss the cut.
Odds for the Tournament
Odds for the tournament are courtesy of BetMGM.com as of Sunday afternoon.
The pomp and circumstance returns to the sports sphere with everyone keen to see who will be putting on a green jacket on Sunday evening.