The Masters, which is one of the biggest weeks in the calendar for any golf professional, is almost upon us, and this really is turning into one strange year when I can’t see any of the big names in the game heading to Augusta riding on a red-hot streak.
Except for Henrik Stenson, who narrowly missed out on winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week and has now finished inside the top-four in all his previous three starts, and Dustin Johnson, who won the WGC-Cadillac Championship, none of the names really jump out and grab your attention on the basis of their recent form.
Let’s start with the world No1 Rory McIlroy. When he won his second Dubai Desert Classic title earlier this year, and the way he started his season in Abu Dhabi, I thought he is going to have another dominant year from the word go.
But after settling his court case with his former management company — and that must have been a big relief for him — Rory hasn’t been his usual self on the golf course. In his three starts in America, he has missed the cut at Honda Classic, and finished tied ninth and 11th. Those are acceptable results for most of us, but not for someone like Rory. And you could sense that his game was slightly off. Hopefully, he will sort out the issues in the next few days.
It is very important for Rory to be in good form at Augusta National, only because he is the greatest storyline going into the first major of the season. A first Masters green jacket would complete his grand slam and further elevate his already exalted status in the game.
There is still no clarity on Tiger Woods’ participation as yet. The fact that he did not play the Arnold Palmer Invitational is an indication that he will probably miss the Masters. And I say that because I don’t think Tiger will tee up at Augusta National without the benefit of having some competitive rounds before hand.
Bubba Watson has had two top-three finish in his four starts in 2015, so he’d be another player who seems to be in good form. And we all know how much the defending champion loves playing on the golf course that requires so much imagination with your shot-making and short game.
You can never count the two top Aussies in Masters, but Adam Scott seems to be struggling a bit with his new short putter. Jason Day won the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines, but hasn’t been in contention lately.
Phil Mickelson needs to arrest his sliding ranking, and there is no better place for him to do that then in a tournament that seems to bring out the best in him. Having said that, he had missed the cut last year.
I have high hopes from some of the younger players, even though Masters hasn’t been very kind to youth. But I will write on that the next week.
— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour
