The Masters 2019: Preview and predictions

1. Justin Rose

It’s a miracle that Justin Rose hasn’t won The Masters, isn’t it? Actually, it’s quite the miracle that the world’s top-ranked player has only one major championship win in his career but he could very easily double that total this week. Rose has made 13 appearances at Augusta and has five top-10 finishes to his credit. He tied for second with Phil Mickelson in 2015, four strokes behind Jordan Spieth, and finished in solo second two years ago, losing in a playoff to Sergio Garcia. His driver and iron play always benefits him here (or anywhere for that matter) and if he get his putter working, he could be slipping on his first green jacket on Sunday.

2. Dustin Johnson

Let’s face it. Dustin Johnson is a threat to win a golf tournament anytime he tees it up and this week is no different. He’s finished in the top 10 in his last three appearances at The Masters, interrupted only by having to miss the tournament altogether in 2017 after a freak accident at his rental home the day before the tournament started. Outside of the WGC-Match Play, DJ has placed in the top 10 in his last four tournaments coming in, including that dominant win in Mexico.

3. Rory McIlroy

There is no hotter player in the world right now than Rory McIlroy and the four-time major champion is a big favorite this week. In the seven tournaments he’s played in 2019, he’s finished outside the top six just once and that was a tie for ninth at the Match Play where he lost a close match to Tiger Woods. He put on a dominating performance at The Players Championship last month at TPC Sawgrass, adding golf’s unofficial fifth major to his amazing resumé, and could accomplish yet another major milestone this week. With a win on Sunday, Rory would become just the sixth man in history to win golf’s Grand Slam. Yes, the memories of that collapse in 2011 still linger but Rory is playing with a lot of confidence right now and this could be his week.

4. Brooks Koepka

Well, it’s a major championship so you know Brooks Koepka is ready to go. After being forced to miss The Masters a season ago due to injury, the 28-year-old Floridian took two of the season’s final three majors, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, on the way to PGA Tour Player of the Year honors. While it’s rare to see his name at the top of a leaderboard during regular events, this guy just gets up for majors and he’s gotten better every single time he’s played Augusta. He tied for 33rd in his debut in 2015, tied for 21st the following year and tied for 11th two years ago, which means he’s improved by at least 10 spots each time. And what’s a 10-spot improvement from 11th?

5. Justin Thomas

So Justin Thomas may not be getting the advice he would like from Tiger this week (Eldrick was apparently a little stingy with the tips during a practice round) but he could still be a factor if he can whip his game back into shape. He started 2019 very hot, carding top-10 finishes in three of his first four starts but has come back a little recently. He finished tied for 30th at the Honda Classic, tied for 35th at The Players (which was really disappointing as he was my official pick that week…thanks, JT) and was ousted somewhat early at the Match Play. But he’s still a top-five player in the world for a reason and if he gets hot, he can go really low here.