It feels as if it comes earlier yearly, nevertheless it’s
that point once more, golf followers.
We’re, after all, referring to the primary Main event of
the yearly {golfing} calendar, and no doubt one of the prestigious,
too.
The Masters 2022 kicks off on Thursday 7 April, on the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership in Augusta, Georgia, and runs till Sunday 10 April.
Though the Masters remains to be historically thought of an ‘invitational
occasion’, there are specific extra qualifying standards these days to bolster
the sphere to round eighty golfers. Nevertheless, that is nonetheless the smallest discipline
of all of the Majors by a good distance.
The Masters is the one Main to happen on the identical venue yearly, with the course consistently kept in pristine condition with manicured fairways and ideal greens. There’s additionally been the latest addition of a ‘semi tough’, giving the already generously broad fairways some additional definition.
The Masters is at all times eagerly anticipated. We caught up with eight-times Ryder Cup participant, three-times Ryder Cup captain, and Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher to speak all issues Masters 2022, from what we are able to anticipate to who he’s tipping for achievement at this yr’s event.
Right here’s what he needed to say…
The Masters 2022: what can we anticipate this yr?
This yr, the actual competitors for that coveted Inexperienced Jacket can be on the again 9 of the final spherical, particularly, the place water comes into play on the three holes making up Amen Corner (11th, 12th, and 13th holes).
Water additionally comes into play on the lengthy par 5 15th and par three 16th. Nevertheless, there are not any water hazards on the entrance
9, so primarily, the course will get exponentially harder because the spherical
proceeds—robust on the gamers however nice for us within the TV viewers!
Finally, the participant that holds their nerve on the again 9 and has an distinctive week on the greens will win.
Bernard’s high picks for the Masters 2022
Rory McIlroy must win the Masters to finish his Grand Slam and be part of solely the 5 different golfers within the historical past of the sport to have received all 4 Majors;
- Jack Nicklaus
- Gary Participant
- Gene Sarazen
- Ben Hogan
- Tiger Woods
Will we see Rory’s title added to this listing in 2022?
Up to now, his greatest alternative got here in 2011, when he led going
into the again 9 however took a calamitous 10 on the 10th gap and
fell away with a remaining spherical of 80, permitting Charles Schwartzel to go on and
clinch victory.
Whereas golf followers will know that you may by no means write Rory off,
he must hit higher iron pictures than he has been lately and have 4 persistently
good days on the greens if he’s to have any probability of profitable.
Rory’s most important power is his excellent driving, however there’s not such a premium on the tee shot round Augusta because of its broad fairways, so he’ll have to search out different methods to win this time—which, after all, he’s greater than able to. Personally, I hope he wins and joins the listing of greats above.
Justin Thomas
American golfer Justin Thomas has an excellent all-round sport.
He’s persistently lengthy and straight off the tee and may go scorching with the putter.
Though simply 28-years-old, Thomas first turned a Main
winner when he received the USPGA in 2017 and (on the time of writing) has 14 wins
beneath his belt on the PGA Tour.
His greatest Masters end was 4th in 2020, and he’s one other sturdy contender to win this yr, for positive.
Scottie Scheffler
Newly topped world primary after profitable the latest WGC
Match Play in Austin, Texas, Scottie Scheffler needs to be a contender this yr.
The 25-year-old American additionally performed on the profitable US Ryder Cup facet in 2021, recording a powerful victory in his Sunday singles match towards the then world primary Jon Rahm.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson received the 2020 Masters, including to his US Open win again
in 2016.
Widespread with the crowds due to his laid again perspective
and large hitting, no person can deny his sturdy credentials. However regardless of his 24 PGA
Tour wins and 9 wins on the European Tour, he goes into this yr’s Masters
on the again of poor kind by his requirements, slipping from 3rd to 9th within the World Golf Rankings on the finish of final yr.
Nevertheless, he likes the course, and it fits him, too, so you’ll be able to’t simply write him off.
Bryson DeChambeau
It’s been a stop-start season up to now for the American as a result of
of a hand harm—which, in keeping with him, will not be associated to his ‘velocity coaching’—I’m
not so positive!
The underside line is that the harm means he’s at present not competing
or practising, which isn’t splendid preparation for the season’s first Main.
His massive hitting and excellent contact on and across the greens makes him one of the thrilling gamers on the earth to observe, and I feel I communicate for everybody in golf after I say I hope he’s again to full well being sooner quite than later.
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith received The Gamers at Sawgrass in March and in addition
received The Sentry Match of Champions in Hawaii in January, with a PGA Tour
document of 34 beneath par!
The 28-year-old Aussie is an effective driver of the ball with a
profitable temperament who putts beautifully and at present lies 3rd on the
PGA Tour Placing Stats.
He tied second on the 2020 Masters, and to say he’s in a wealthy vein of kind can be an enormous understatement. It’ll come as no shock to anybody, myself included if he wins at Augusta.
Collin Morrikawa
The Open Champion and USPGA 2020 winner, Collin Morikawa, is
by nature the very definition of a ‘big-time participant’ who’ll expect to do
effectively at Augusta and add to his Majors.
His greatest end up to now this season is a tied second place on the Genesis Invitational on the Riviera Nation Membership in Los Angeles in February.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka can be what I’d name an enormous event participant,
primarily as a result of he retains his greatest golf for the Majors.
He’s a four-time Main winner and in addition has document in
the 2 different Majors he’s nonetheless but to win—The Masters and The Open. An excellent
driver of the ball and good with the irons, too, he is aware of the course at Augusta
effectively, having completed second behind Tiger Woods in 2019.
I anticipate him to be one other sturdy contender for this yr’s Inexperienced Jacket.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland has loved a meteoric rise in golf since
turning skilled in 2019 and at present sits third on the earth rankings.
At simply 24-years-old, the Norwegian golfer is destined for
massive issues within the sport, and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he wins a Main.
He’s received 3 times on the PGA Tour and a few occasions on the European Tour,
too, however is but to have a high ten end in a Main.
I’d say there’s probability that may change quickly, although.
Jon Rahm
How may we not point out former world primary Jon Rahm as
a critical contender for the Masters title?
He’s had good finishes already this yr, each in Hawaii and
at The Farmers at Torre Pines, which implies he’s on good kind heading into this
event.
He tied 4th at Augusta in 2018 together with his sturdy sport and glorious optimistic placing, so it’ll be no shock to me if he wins it this yr.
Hideki Matsuyama
The defending Masters champion and the primary Japanese participant
to win a Main, Hideki Matsuyama is one other agency favorite.
His historic win final yr is particularly memorable as a result of
of his caddy’s lengthy and respectful bow on the final inexperienced, which endeared them
each to the tens of millions of followers worldwide watching on tv—myself included.
Hideki has document in Majors and, in some methods, saves his greatest golf for the large events, however being the defending champion brings a way of elevated stress in itself.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay is one other critical contender.
He’s final yr’s Participant of the Yr and received the year-ending Tour Championship in Atalanta together with its mouth-watering $15m bonus.
Masters 2022: an outdoor probability?
Paul Casey
Casey has been a persistently good participant for a number of years now. He has document within the Majors regardless of not profitable and is definitely not over the hill at 44-years-old.
Tyrell Hatton
A feisty temperament goes a good distance on this sport, and Tyrell Hatton has simply that. He’s the primary putter on the PGA Tour and a confirmed event winner—don’t rule him out.
Justin Rose
Justin Rose is coming to phrases with taking part in on the PGA Tour
whereas now residing within the UK. Sadly for him, final season was significantly
hampered by harm, however he’s again to full health now.
He’s a confirmed Main winner and in addition has Masters document, tying second in 2015 and 2017.
Many because of Bernard for giving us the complete Masters lowdown!
Wanting ahead to this yr’s event? Who’re you
tipping for achievement? Do you agree with Bernard?
Get in contact and tell us.
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