The Masters: why Spieth has the game to tame Augusta National

Iconic golf event

It’s one of the most eagerly-anticipated events in the world of sport, let alone golf, as the unique history and tradition of Augusta National will be on show again for the 86th edition of The Masters. 

It’s not the oldest of golf’s majors or the biggest field, but whether it’s down to it being the first one of the year or the fact it’s always staged at iconic Augusta National, The Masters seems to be the golf tournament that carries the most mystique. 

The Masters is probably the golfing event that transcends the sport most, with most casual sports fans knowing when and where it’s held, and that the winner gets the famed Green Jacket. 

And just who will slip on that famous piece of tailoring this year only adds to the intrigue - will Rory McIlroy finally get his grand slam? Will we get a first-time winner? Will Tiger Woods tee it up? 

History and tradition like no other 

Legendary golfer Bobby Jones and banker Clifford Roberts started it all when they bought Fruitland Nurseries for $70,000 and charged esteemed designer Dr Alister MacKenzie with designing the masterpiece that is Augusta National. 

Opened in 1933, the first ‘Augusta National Invitational Tournament’ was held in 1934, before it became known as The Masters in 1939 and from 1940 it was scheduled for the first full week in April. Jones had wanted to stage the US Open at Augusta, but summer conditions in Georgia are historically too stifling hot. 

The Masters only became ‘a major’ in 1960 but the yearly event among the azaleas has now become a pilgrimage for golfing fans (or patrons as they’re called at Augusta) and players who dream of driving down Magnolia Lane towards their first Masters. 

All this history of holding such a prestigious event at the same course year after year means the tradition builds and builds and all these fixtures and fittings around the tournament just set it apart. 

Starting with the famous Green Jacket, the most sought-after piece of sports clothing in the world, which came from an idea Jones took from Royal Liverpool – and was first handed out as a prize to the winner of The Masters when Sam Snead claimed the tournament in 1949. 

The Green Jacket overshadows the actual Masters Trophy in terms of prestige, and the handing over ceremony at the Butler Cabin, the par three contest on the eve of the tournament, the Champions Dinner, honorary starters and the all-white boiler suits for caddies are all instantly recognisable Masters traditions that make the event such a special one.  

World number one Scottie Scheffler is among the favourites to win The Masters

What does it take to master Augusta National? 

We’ve heard time and again that The Masters doesn’t really get going until the back nine on Sunday, and we’ve all seen the likes of McIlroy, Justin Spieth and Greg Norman fall apart around Amen Corner. 

It’s funny to think that the nines were originally reversed at Augusta, with no doubt the now back nine being full of potential banana skins, but also birdies available for good shots – and that’s a theme around the course. 

Scores can be made at Augusta, and you can make them on the back nine, but you really need to flush your approach shots and land them to the centimetre if you’re in attack mode or know where you can and can’t miss the target. 

The elevation changes around Augusta catch many first-timers out and although there’s room enough off most of the tees, hanging lies from the fairways are commonplace and it soon becomes apparent that second shots, or approach shots, are the key to challenging here. 

Scrambling is perhaps next up in importance, as when you do miss the green, and players will, then getting up-and-down is no laughing matter at times. Although we instantly think of those slippery Augusta greens, they’re more dangerous if you’re out of position. 

So iron play and scrambling just pip putting in importance with tee shots ranking last, although a Masters champion has to be playing well all round to slip on a Green Jacket. 

Taking advantage of the par fives is another crucial factor, and mainly just not letting the occasion get to you another – there's a reason why debutants hardly even win here, and a reason why most Masters champions have previously gone close at Augusta. 

Masters storylines 

Tiger Woods dominates the build-up, as he usually does whenever he’s involved, but even more so when we’re talking about a comeback from almost losing his leg after a car crash. 

He’s won the US Open on one leg, but this is a far more serious injury he’s coming back from, and as courses go Augusta is one tough walk.  

Punters are backing him though, with emotional money more than serious as just 70 is an outrageously short price for even arguably the best player ever to come to Augusta and win The Masters. Just teeing it up would be a huge achievement and making the cut a borderline miracle. 

McIlroy continues his quest for the grand slam and having The Masters as the final piece of the puzzle really doesn’t help for two reasons – one being that it’s the most hyped-up event at the start of major season.

The other is because of his 2011 meltdown when he should have really won his first major title here when he was in total control. Thankfully for him he went on and won the US Open that year showing remarkable character. 

He’s not managed to get his hands on that jacket yet though and with every year that slips by the pressure increases – it'll be tough for him to handle it when he does inevitably get back into a winning position here. He’s 23 to finally win it this year. 

Who to back

Jon Rahm makes a worthy favourite again at 13.5 as he’s got the game and the Augusta experience with four straight Top 10s, so it'd be no surprise to see him bag a second major here, but there are several strong candidates. 

Former winner Dustin Johnson has some serious Augusta form, especially if you take out last year’s missed cut which came as defending champion with all those distractions - and coming just months after he won the rearranged Masters in November. 

At 20 he’s a big price, but at a slightly bigger one we find another former champion in Jordan Spieth, who is a magician around Augusta and should really have two, possibly three Masters titles tucked away already. 

Spieth is 24 and although, like Johnson, he’s not on top of his game he put on a clinic in approach play in Texas on Sunday with his best statistical tee-to-green round for seven years! More of that this week around Augusta will see him go close again. 

The one if, and it’s a big IF, is if Spieth can get his once red-hot putter to behave, as he putted awfully at the weekend here last year and had another shocker on Sunday. At Augusta though, Spieth can do anything. 

Form horse Scottie Scheffler will have plenty of backers at 18, and rightly so, while Justin Thomas has suggested he can go close before and has putted better this year so is naturally among the market leaders at 15. 

We suggested Cameron Smith in our early loook at The Masters and the Players Championship winner has near enough held his price as an 18 chance to become just the second Australian to win The Masters. He’s seemingly got the mentality to match his game and that’s a big deal at Augusta. Even better are his three Top 10s here in five outings and his confidence will never have been higher. 

Scotsman Robert MacIntyre has been a huge drifter but at 200 he could give you a run for your each-way money after finishing T12 in his debut last year, while Louis Oosthuizen came close in three majors last year so could he go close again here at 50?  

Will Zalatoris came ever so close on debut last year, but his short putting recently would make you nervous if backing him at 36 but at almost double that price take a look at consistent Canadian Corey Conners at 70. 

Conners has Top 10s in his last two trips to Augusta when he ranked 11th and third for hitting greens in regulation, and he finished third at the recent WGC Matchplay as a nice confidence booster. There’s enough to suggest he could make a run again at a decent price. 

Recommended bets 

Dustin Johnson @ 20 

Jordan Spieth @ 24 

Cameron Smith @ 18 

Corey Conners @ 70