The Masters can’t get here soon enough

But is that much different from a year ago?

Look at the landscape in 2017. Jordan Spieth won big at Pebble Beach and had never finished worse than runner-up in three Masters. Thomas shot 59, set a PGA Tour scoring record for 72 holes and swept Hawaii to begin his emergence as the next young star. Hideki Matsuyama was on a roll. Jon Rahm was just getting started. Rickie Fowler won again. And then Johnson found another gear and won three straight tournaments.

And then Sergio Garcia won his first major in his 20th year as a pro.

The difference now is that picking a favourite is like picking a favourite hole at Augusta National. The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook most recently had Woods, Thomas, McIlroy and Johnson at 10-1. Spieth and Justin Rose were 12-1. Watson was right behind at 14-1 followed by Mickelson and Jason Day at 16-1.

If it seems crowded at the top, consider what brought us to this point.

— Westgate had Woods at 50-1 for the Masters right before he returned to competition in December.

— Johnson wins Kapalua by eight shots for his eighth victory in his last 34 events, all against some of the strongest fields.

— Rahm ended 2017 by winning the European finale in Dubai, was runner-up at Kapalua and won the CareerBuilder Challenge. With a chance to go to No. 1 in the world at Torrey Pines, he went from a one-shot deficit after 36 holes to a 75-77 weekend. Woods made the cut at Torrey Pines with a two-putt birdie from 70 feet on his last hole. He tied for 23rd, exceeding expectations. Masters odds go to 20-1. Day won Torrey Pines in a playoff for his first victory in 20 months.

— Johnson finished second at Pebble Beach to Ted Potter Jr., who has missed every cut since then. Imagine if Johnson had won Pebble. He would still be the clear favourite at Augusta.