2025 Masters

[K Douglas]

The Masters is always my favorite major because its a sign of the beginning of golf season. Plus it has the most prestige.
Last years champ was all world Scottie Scheffler who won the championship by 4 strokes over up and comer Ludvig Aberg.
Scottie is the favorite again this year but as we know its incredibly hard to repeat. He's one of two golfers to have finished top 20 there for the past 3 years,. The other being Colin Morikawa.
The hottest player on tour so far in 2025 is Rory McIlroy. He has 2 wins and 3 top 10's in the 5 events he's participated in so far this season. Could he finally win that elusive Green Jacket and complete the Majors Grand Slam?
The Canadians Corey Connors, Taylor Pendrith and Nick Taylor do they have a chance to be the 2nd Canadian ever to don the Green Jacket? All three have been playing well so far this season.
On the LIV tour Joaquin Niemann has 2 wins and leads the standings this season. Jon Rahm has finished top 10 in each of the 5 events played so far. Rahm won the Masters in 2023. Niemann only cracked the top 20 once in the past three years.

Who I'm watching
For some reason I really like Bryson DeChambeau this year. I think he's in a great head space. And with his power he could really have a great advantage over the field if he's accurate. He's had an unremarkable start to the season on the LIV tour but has finished top 20 in all 5 events played. If the odds are favorable I will be putting a few $ on him to at least finish top 10.
I also like Morikawa. He's finished T3, T10 and 5 the past three years. His driving accuracy really gives him a decisive advantage on Augusta. I'll have a few shares of him.
Maverick McNealy, just because he's got a cool name. But no really he's had a hot start on the PGA tour as well. At 150-1 I'm going to take a flyer.

Fading
Dustin Johnson, he seems disinterested in golf these days.
Brooks Koepka. I can't stand him, he's a jerk.
Xander Schauffele. His game just hasn't been there so far this season. I think he'll do better in the summer majors.

 

[tml]

I'm cheering for Rory, simply because I like him. After that the Canadian boys. Wouldn't surprise me if someone comes out of nowhere and wins it, golf can be like that.

 

[jalimon]

Cheering for Conors. Saw that he played good today. I like the Master's website. You can view a player on any hole you want. COol.

 

[K Douglas]

Cheering for Conors. Saw that he played good today. I like the Master's website. You can view a player on any hole you want. COol.

Corey had a great start. I went into 3 Masters pools and picked him in 2 of them so I'm happy. Certainly didn't see Justin Rose leading by 3 after round 1.

 

[jalimon]

Corey had a great start. I went into 3 Masters pools and picked him in 2 of them so I'm happy. Certainly didn't see Justin Rose leading by 3 after round 1.

You may have made a great bet. Conners is in a pretty good position after 2 rounds. If he stays consistent 2 more rounds with minus or minus 3, that should be it.

But Sheffler came back close enough, I think. The way he has been playing the last 2 years, he is a serious contender on Sunday.

 

[Zoot Allures]

Corey had a great start. I went into 3 Masters pools and picked him in 2 of them so I'm happy. Certainly didn't see Justin Rose leading by 3 after round 1.

There are a few holes he can birdie and the rest he has to go for par

4 days in a row is a hard task for him as he can not have a bad day like Rory did

I wish him luck as there are several champions in the mix

 

[tml]

I thought Rory was finished after the first round meltdown, but what a great second day.

Mike Weir missed the cut by 2 shots.

Phil Mickelson looked like he was in the witness protection program.

 

[K Douglas]

I thought Rory was finished after the first round meltdown, but what a great second day.

Mike Weir missed the cut by 2 shots.

Phil Mickelson looked like he was in the witness protection program.

When Rory is on his game he's tough to beat. Its all mental for him at this point. Can he close and finally get that elusive green jacket?

LMAO @Mickelson

 

[K Douglas]

I would be so happy if any one of McIlroy, DeChambeau or Connors wins this thing. I like all 3 golfers and I would stand to win a few bucks in the process.

 

[Mandala]

I would be so happy if any one of McIlroy, DeChambeau or Connors wins this thing. I like all 3 golfers and I would stand to win a few bucks in the process.

Conners is playing for third at best second.

McIlroy vs DeChambeau could be down to the wire

I have walked Augusta and the slope on the fairways and greens have to be seen
as TV does not do the difficulty of that course justice

You need a lot of backspin for your ball to hold those greens which are the hardest on tour


As a weekend warrior who can break 80 I would not break 100 at Augusta, no way.
The greens are big and I feel I could reach them if my drive hit the right spot but my ball would roll off the greens so I would have to land in front of the greens and let it roll on and those greens are steep and hard so a lot of 4 or 5 puts for me

I would shoot 120

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

McIlroy choke

 

[xmontrealer]

McIlroy choke

Yes he did, but he pulled it together and won in the first hole of the playoff against Justin Rose. Finally!

Rory now is the sixth golfer to win the Career Grand Slam. Prior to today the last player to win it was Tiger, in the year 2000.

 

[xmontrealer]

Conners is playing for third at best second.

McIlroy vs DeChambeau could be down to the wire

I have walked Augusta and the slope on the fairways and greens have to be seen
as TV does not do the difficulty of that course justice

You need a lot of backspin for your ball to hold those greens which are the hardest on tour


As a weekend warrior who can break 80 I would not break 100 at Augusta, no way.
The greens are big and I feel I could reach them if my drive hit the right spot but my ball would roll off the greens so I would have to land in front of the greens and let it roll on and those greens are steep and hard so a lot of 4 or 5 puts for me

I would shoot 120

Yeah, it's too bad how much TV flattens the course image.

Back when I played the game the best I was, was a 9 handicap for about 5 minutes, from the blue tees.

I don't think even then I could break 120 from the "senior's tees" at Augusta...

 

[wigglee]

That gallery was the whitest crowd I've ever seen!

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Yes he did, but he pulled it together and won in the first hole of the playoff against Justin Rose. Finally!

Amazing to do under all that pressure

 

[opieshuffle]

That gallery was the whitest crowd I've ever seen!

LOL... I thought the same! The Ozempic, private jet, "one more margarita and hour in the sun away" from a full on stroke crowd!

 

[xmontrealer]

Amazing to do under all that pressure

Have to admit when I was golfing with my buddies I would get nervous over a 3' putt if there was more than $20 on it.

The putts you wake up in the middle of the night screaming about are the short ones you missed that counted...

 

[jalimon]

That gallery was the whitest crowd I've ever seen!

Augusta allowed black members only in 1990. And female members in 2012! You are in mega maga racist white privilege country there.

Yet, great course and always a great tournament.

 

[Zoot Allures]

Yeah, it's too bad how much TV flattens the course image.

Back when I played the game the best I was, was a 9 handicap for about 5 minutes, from the blue tees.

I don't think even then I could break 120 from the "senior's tees" at Augusta...

I agree.

Assuming you had a few days to practice those greens and plan your strategy, which is the only fair test, and if you were a solid weekend warrior then I suspect some holes you would double if you got there in there in regulation but with those slopes on the fairway you will find only a few holes in regulation and would be very lucky to hold the green and then there is the water

Same with the US open as they have impossible rough that the Masters has not got by design
as the Masters wants to be different. Imagine the Masters with the thick rough of a US open!

On the fairway rough in the US Open I see no problem in punching out , use you wedge and swing hard, but near the green you will just move ball a few inches or fly the green then fly it all over again on your next shot back and that could go on for quite a few shots LOL and their greens are just as delicate
as the Masters

The problem is you have no where to go to practise such conditions


On a normal PGA tour, like the Canadian Open, I see no problem breaking 100 unless
there is a strong wind, just play within yourself which is always the best idea assuming you can drive the ball well from the deep blues because on some holes, where the pros play from, you can be looking at 250 to clear the rough that lies directly in front of you so no avoiding it

 

[wigglee]

I want to see Trump play in a televised pro-am tournament so we can prove that he lies about winning.