The 2019 US Masters at Augusta will be the 83rd occasion of the world-famous tournament, and a number of contenders will fancy their chances of winning the year’s first major.
Patrick Reed will be the defending champion, having collected the green jacket 12 months ago for his first major success. But will he become a rare back-to-back champion, or will he be placing the green jacket on a new champion?
The Contenders
Defending champion Reed recorded a one-shot victory over Rickie Fowler last year, but he hasn’t enjoyed the same kind of form this year and would be a surprise winner.
It was yet another chapter in the major heartache for Fowler, who has now finished runner-up three times in majors. The American would be a popular winner should he finally be able to get across the line.
Justin Rose has won a major, but not at Augusta where he has twice been a runner-up in the Masters behind Jordan Spieth in 2015 and Sergio Garcia in 2017. Already a winner this year, could he go one better in 2019?
Spieth has always played Augusta well, but the American has lost his way somewhat since last summer, struggling to post top-10 finishes let alone look like winning a major. Could Augusta spark him back into life with Spieth never having finished worse than 11th in five attempts in the Masters?
Tiger Woods is another former winner and there would no more popular champion this year than the former world number one. It amazingly is 14 years since he last got his hands on the green jacket, but there has been glimpses of the old Tiger returning following his injury troubles. Could that roar be heard on Sunday?
Rory McIlroy goes in search of completing a career Grand Slam with the Masters the only major missing from his CV. The Northern Irishman has been in sparkling form this year and he knows how to win a major having four in the bag already. But can he get over past Masters heartaches?
World number one Dustin Johnson is another who has been out of luck at Augusta, but he too will head to Augusta in top form. A winner this year in Saudi Arabia and in the WGC-Mexico, could he improve on a best finish of fourth at Augusta?
Key Holes
The opener—Hole 1 (Tea Olive)—isn’t the most difficult par-4 but it is one where avoiding a score is crucial to setting the round up. Hole 8 (Yellow Jasmine) is the longest of the par-5s where the risk and reward element of Augusta comes into its own.
It is from Hole 11 (White Dogwood) where the Amen Corner trio of holes begin, and they will go a long way to deciding the winner of the Masters. The first is a 505-yard par-4 and likely to be the toughest hole all week, and it is following the renowned par-3 Hole 12 (Golden Bell) across Rae’s Creek. The last of the trio is Hole 13 (Azalea), a 510-yard par-5 where the greenside water can cause problems.
In the closing stretch, Hole 16 (Redbud) is the one that will capture most attention with the par-3 surrounding by grandstands and filled with drama, but it is the largely unspectacular Hole 18 (Holly) that will decide the winner.
See also: Your Guide to the Masters Tournament