(The Masters FB Page)
We are close to the time when the cameras are turned on to the immaculate Augusta National Golf Club and 2016 edition of the Masters. Traditionally I would wait until the beginning of the week of any golf tournament to break down what I expect in the coming week. However, every event is not the first major of the year and even then, every event is not the Masters.
The Masters, much like the Open Championship, is an event I treat with a level of reverence and respect. April 9th thru April 12th will be the dates and Augusta, Georgia is the home. Welcome to Major Championship season and welcome to the Masters. Will a performance this year make the top-10 all-time greatest Masters moments or maybe the five worst Masters performances? One thing is for sure, Augusta will be entertaining.
Do you want some fun facts about Masters history or just want to know the history of Masters champions? Check out Past Masters Champions, Winners List, Fun Facts, History | Augusta
Are you curious what the biggest collapse was in Masters history? Check out Golf’s Worst Moments: 5 Biggest Collapses in Masters History
Are you curious about the top moments in Masters history? Check out Golf’s Greatest Moments: Ranking the Top-10 Masters Performances All-Time
Dates: April 7 -10 2016
Course: Augusta National
Stats: Par 72, 7,435 yards
Television Broadcast Coverage (Times):
Thursday: ESPN 3:00 – 7:30 PM EST, 8:00 – 11:00 PM EST
Friday: ESPN 3:00 – 7:30 PM EST, 8:00 – 11:00 PM EST
Saturday: CBS 3:00 -7:00 PM EST
Sunday: CBS 2:00 -7:00 PM EST
Purse: $10 million
2016 Masters Predictions, Picks, Sleeper | Augusta National Amen Corner Swing Holes
The Par-72 Augusta National Golf Club is no pushover but most of the attention will be focused on “Amen Corner” (dubbed such in the 1958 edition of the Masters by Herbert Warren Wind in a Sports Illustrated article). “Amen Corner” refers to the 11th, 12th and 13th holes of the famed course. A high percentage of the television coverage will be focused here.
Hole No. 11 – Par 4, 505 Yards
The 11th (White Dogwood) is a par-4 that plays 505 yards. A left-to-right downhill tee shot is a virtual must on this hole. From there, players will be faced with an approach into a green protected by a pond to the left and a bunker to the right. In 1987 Larry Mize chipped in here during a playoff to defeat Greg Norman.
Hole No. 12 – Par 3, 155 Yards
The 12th (Golden Bell) is a par-3 that plays 155 yards. This is a short but challenging hole due to Rae’s Creek and often challenging winds. This green is also protected by three carefully located bunkers. Navigation of this hole is crucial to Masters success but players may immerse themselves in history as they walk over Hogan’s bridge.
Hole No. 13 – Par 5, 510 Yards
The 13th (Azalea) is a par-5 that plays 510 yards. If players can navigate the dogleg left off the tee, they can challenge the green in two but need to make sure that they clear Rae’s Creek. If they clear the creek, four bunkers guard the back of this green. An incredible shot out of the trees here by Phil Mickelson in 2010 propelled him to victory.
Hole No. 18 – Par 4, 465 Yards
What should not be lost in the mix is “”Holly,” the 465 yard, Par 4 finishing hole at Augusta National. Without a doubt, this is one of the most famous holes in golf. As the finishing hole of the Masters, “Holly” will get it share of attention and rightfully so. The landing area of the uphill dogleg finishing hole is protected is protected by two angry bunkers. If players hit the fairway there is a chance that a middle iron into a narrow green may decide the 2015 Masters.
2016 Masters Predictions, Picks, Sleeper | Augusta National Amen Corner Selections
Let’s take a look at three players that I would predict to be right in the hunt coming down the stretch on Sunday at the 2016 Masters. There will be no Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, or Rory McIlroy here since I am not taking the easy way out. Two players will seem more logical than the other but I am adding a player that just might surprise, basically a sleeper for success at the 2016 Masters Predictions, Picks, Sleeper | Augusta National Amen Corner
| Top Players | Remarks |
| Justin Rose | In his last six starts at Augusta National, Justin Rose has not finished outside the top-25. During that time he finished tied for eighth and runner-up to Jordan Spieth in last year’s edition of the season’s first major championship. If you go back to 2007 you can even find another top-5 at the Masters. Overall, he has the consistency and pedigree to get the job done. If you exclude the Dell Match play, he has four consecutive top-20s including two top-10s at Pebble Beach and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He is a veteran who knows his way around pressure and Augusta |
| Adam Scott | Shocking right? I am claiming that the 2013 Masters champion is a contender to win the 2016 edition. In four of his last five starts at Augusta National he has four top-20s including a victory, eighth and runner-up finish. In his last four starts (excluding the Match Play which is clearly a different format) he has a top-15, a runner-up and two wins at the Northern Trust and Cadillac Championships. He is one of the hottest players on the planet and on the short list to win at Augusta National again. |
| Sleeper | Remarks |
| Zach Johnson | You can begin to call Zach Johnson the crafty old vet. He has been around and put in his work. He has a couple of career top-10s at Augusta including his first Green Jacket in 2007 and a top-10 last year. He is winless so far in 2016 but he does have a couple of top-10s in limited (by design) starts including the Sony Open and a fifth at the Arnold Palmer invitational a couple of weeks ago. It is hard to pass up a former Masters champion who is not “over the hill” even if he appears forgotten by many. |
Loading ...
Leave a Reply