Who’s going to win the Masters?

It’s Masters week. I think one of the best tournaments of the year on an exceptional golf course.

Sadly I have not had the opportunity to play there, it’s not the easiest of courses to get on to.

 

Who’s going to win?

It’s a golf course that is getting longer every year and the greens are notoriously quick and undulating. Miss the green on the wrong side and you can really be punished for it.

I recently read an article by Rich Hunt who is a statistician that works with a few tour players and their caddies and he has come up with some interesting picks based on a few criteria. He ended up ruling out players based on the criteria being:

• First time playing in the Masters. (There’s only ever been one winner in their first appearance)
• Past champions that are no longer competitive (harsh but maybe fair!).
• Short hitters (Zach Johnson being the outlier who won….when it was extremely windy and in lower temperatures).
• Players that hit the ball low.
• Players that have never made the cut.
• Players that missed the cut the week before (Spieth, Westwood and Stenson are in this list!!!).
• Players that have performed poorly from 175-225 yards this year.

After that it leaves a list of 20 players:

Matthew Fitzpatrick
Rickie Fowler
Sergio Garcia
Emiliano Grillo
Russell Henley
Charley Hoffman
Dustin Johnson
Martin Kaymer
Shane Lowry
Hideki Matsuyama
Rory McIlroy
Sean O’Hair
Louis Oosthuizen
Justin Rose
Charl Schwartzel
Justin Thomas
Jimmy Walker
Bubba Watson
Bernd Wiesberger
Gary Woodland

Personally, from that list I would love to see Sergio win. My heart would also like to see Matthew Fitzpatrick making himself a major winner but my head says we will see an American winner.

If you are having a bet then maybe pick from the list. I hope we get to see a thrilling finish on Sunday night.