Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy are all expected to mount challenges at the US Masters, so Jon Turner has picked five players he expects to be in contention with the Big Three for the green jacket at Augusta National.
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ADAM SCOTT
Regardless of the perceived Big Three heading into The Masters, on current form and past achievements at Augusta, Scott should be right in the thick of the action come Sunday’s final round. The Australian world No 7 is in electrifying form this season, with successive wins at The Honda Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Championship to go alongside two runner-up finishes from nine tournaments played. Scott currently leads the FedExCup standings and is ranked No 2 on the PGA Tour in scoring average (69.2) this season. He, of course, already has a green jacket hanging in his closet following his 2013 triumph, so is well aware of what is required to win at Augusta. Few players will enter the tournament better prepared or better suited to winning the title.
BUBBA WATSON
Another player who will fancy giving Day, Spieth, and McIlroy a run for their money. Ranked world No 4 and a two-time winner at Augusta, Watson will always be among the favourites heading into the Masters. Like Scott, Watson is in scintillating form this season having won twice, at the Hero World Challenge and Northern Trust Open, and his bold, attacking game has proved a fine fit for the Augusta National course. In the last four years, Watson’s Masters record reads: T38th, won, T50th, won, T38th. Do not be surprised if the big-hitting American notches a third ‘won’ this year.
JUSTIN ROSE
Always in the pre-tournament discussions ahead of each major such is his solid all-round game, Rose has yet to really catch fire in 2016, with a pair of sixth placed finishes his best showings so far this season. However, a tied-second at the 2015 Masters shows how well suited the Englishman is to Augusta National, and given how efficient Rose is from tee-to-green, should his putter catch fire, the world No 9 could go one better this year.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
A player bristling with talent, the Japanese 24-year-old is surely a future major champion in the making. A fifth-place finish at the 2015 Masters, as well as top 10s at the British Open and US Open in 2013, proves Matsuyama has the game to mix it with the very best. This season has started well for Matsuyama, with victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open via a playoff win against Rickie Fowler, and two more top 10 finishes. Undoubtedly one of the best iron players in the world, it will be that part of his game that can fire him into Masters contention.
CHARL SCHWARTZEL
A former Masters champion, twice a winner this season (at the European Tour’s Tshwane Open, and the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour), and ranked world No 20, yet little thought is being given to South African Schwartzel. His 2011 triumph at Augusta is perhaps best remembered for Rory McIlroy’s remarkable implosion, but let’s not forget, Schwartzel shot a stunning six-under par final round to win the title. Supremely talented and in fine fettle, Schwartzel will at the very least be expecting to feature high up the leaderboard.