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The Masters: 5 pairings that will be guaranteed must-see TV

By David Salituro

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the United States walks up the ninth fairway passing the main leaderboard during the final round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the United States walks up the ninth fairway passing the main leaderboard during the final round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 08: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays a shot during a practice round prior to The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 08: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays a shot during a practice round prior to The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) /

3. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jason Day (1:38 p.m./10:42 a.m.)

An unfortunate fall off the stairs of his rental home two years ago cost Dustin Johnson a chance to compete for the Green Jacket. In three appearances in between that withdrawal, though, he’s been inside the top-10 each year. Johnson won his 20th career PGA Tour event earlier this year, the most on tour in the last ten years. In addition to winning the WGC-Mexico Championship in February, he has five other top-10 finishes this year. The powerful Johnson trails only Rory McIlroy in total strokes gained in 2019 and is second in scoring average. He’s a threat every time he tees off at Augusta National.

Bryson DeChambeau was low amateur in his Masters debut back in 2016, coming within a shot of the lead in the second round. He’s won five PGA Tour titles since then, and ranks eighth this year in strokes gained: off-the-tee and fifth in birdie average. The “Mad Scientist” of the PGA Tour often attracts more attention for his unorthodox methods as he does for his actual play, but he can’t be discounted as a contender this week. The officials at Augusta National are even letting him keep the flagstick in when he putts.

Jason Day was runner-up the first time he played the Masters in 2011. He also finished third in 2013. But a lingering back issue continues to hamper him this season. He had to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational only to finish eighth at the Players Championship the next week. In his past two starts, however, Day has missed the cut and finished 61st. Still, he’s doing everything he can to be healthy for this Masters. “My last two tournaments haven’t been great, but if there’s one I need to peak for it’s this,” he said this week. “If it starts to hurt I’ll have to tough it out…but I’ve had a week off now, so all-in-all I feel pretty good.”

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