Tour News
There are certain weeks in golf that just feel different, and this is one of them. The Masters has a way of slowing everything down. The colours are sharper, the moments feel bigger, and somehow every shot seems to matter just a little bit more. Augusta National does that, year-after-year.
On paper, Augusta National hasn’t changed much. It’s still a par-72, still long enough, still demanding on every aspect of a player's game. But what makes it special isn’t the yardage, it’s the questions it asks. Can you control your ball into those slippery greens? Can you stay patient when things don’t quite go your way? And when the moment comes, can you actually hit the shot you see?
If you’ve watched The Masters before, you’ll know what’s coming. Amen Corner.
The 11th is a long, demanding par-4 that asks for a committed drive and then a precise approach into a green that never quite looks as big as you want it to. Miss it in the wrong place and you’re scrambling straight away with the water to the left of the green.
Then comes the 12th. Short on the card, but arguably the most uncomfortable tee shot in golf. The swirling wind, the narrow green, Rae’s Creek waiting. You’ll see players go from looking in control to suddenly second-guessing everything. Made for the highest drama!
And then the 13th. A classic risk and reward par-5 that has decided more Masters than almost any other hole. Go for it in two and you can pick up an eagle and change your entire tournament. Get it slightly wrong, and Augusta bites back quickly in so many different ways.
It’s hard to look past Scottie Scheffler. He just seems built for this place. Calm, controlled, and rarely out of position. That being said, the recent birth of his second child will certainly have impacted his pre-tournament preparation.
Rory McIlroy comes back again, now with that long-awaited Masters win behind him. Sometimes that freedom is exactly what a player needs to go again. And then there’s Ludvig Åberg. He feels like a natural fit for Augusta. Beautiful rhythm, high ball flight, and completely unfazed by the big stage. He’s still relatively new to this environment, but nothing about him suggests that will matter for long.
From our side of the pond, Tommy Fleetwood looks a really good fit. He’s got the control, the short game, and most importantly the patience. Augusta rewards that. If he gets into contention, you wouldn’t worry about him handling it. Matt Fitzpatrick is another who quietly ticks a lot of boxes. He doesn’t overpower courses, he picks them apart, and that can go a long way here.
