Rain and wind will rule Augusta, with Johnson, Spieth, Fowler top contenders

Masters practice broke dark and gloomy as a series of storm fronts rolled over Augusta National Golf Club in the early part of the week and disrupted the first days of the first major of the season.

Mother Nature might not be done playing through.

The forecast doesn’t look bright. Thunderstorms were expected to return on Wednesday. Once the storm clouds fade, temperatures will fall into the low 60s for both Thursday and Friday, with winds reaching a steady 25 mph. Warmth and sunshine is forecast for the weekend, with temperatures reaching the mid- to upper 70s.

If the forecast holds, the course will play softer, thus longer, and the winds will wreak potential mayhem on most every shot.

“When you’re playing this course soft, being able to carry the ball and have that length is going to be a bonus,” said Rickie Fowler, who won the Honda Classic in February and tied for third in last week’s Shell Houston Open.

Fowler is more concerned, however, about the wind, especially swirling winds.

“Really, every hole out here,” Fowler said when asked which holes are most affected by swirling or high winds. “Sometimes playing around here, when it’s a light breeze and moving around and gusts come up from different areas, that’s when it can get tougher.

“The biggest thing in the wind is just hitting the ball solid. Now, at times, yeah, we’ll have to hit some low, but with it potentially being windy and wet, I think you’re still going to be trying to push it out there off the tees to potentially get some shorter shots in.”

Foul weather is the only thing that can put a damper on the 81st edition of the Masters. The storylines are plentiful and captivating as they always are when players arrive at this magical place among the Georgia pines.

“I feel like you think about Augusta and the Masters all year,” Fowler said. “It’s the buildup from January, February and March, that road to getting here. I would say the final month before is where you really kind of start to bear down and focus on trying to get the game really heading in the right direction and swinging well and playing well, so you come in here with some more confidence.”

No one has more confidence than world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who rolled WHILE THE golfers may take center stage, the star of the Masters is always the Augusta National golf course. Defending champion Danny Willett (right) of England and his caddie walk over Hogan Bridge to the 12th green during yesterday’s practice round. The tournament tees off today. down Magnolia Lane on this week on a big-time roll. He’s won his last three starts – two of them World Golf Championships events – and has plenty of firepower to take down Augusta National and win his first Masters.

Jordan Spieth has nearly won the last three Masters, finishing runner-up in 2014 and 2016 and winning in 2015. All eyes will be on the young Texan when he gets to the 12th hole on Thursday.

It was there in the final round of last year’s Masters where the two-time major winner rinsed two balls in Rae’s Creek and squandered a five-shot lead with nine to play.

Spieth isn’t dreading his return to the 12th. Nor is he sweating last week’s missed cut in the Shell Houston Open.

“I think we know, and the other players that are playing next week know, that we strike fear in others next week,” Spieth said after missing the cut. “So that’s our idea, that’s going to be my confidence level going in, and we’ll step on the first tee ready to play.”

Three-time champion Phil Mickelson will step on the first tee with a chance to become the oldest Masters winner. Jon Rahm will step on the first tee with a chance to become the first since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the Masters in his first trip to Augusta National.

Rahm, who won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego earlier this year, is fast becoming a wise guy’s pick this week. And the rookie isn’t lacking in confidence.

“If I didn’t think I could win it, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Truly, Torrey Pines is not one of the places rookies usually win for the first time, and I was able to do it. Obviously this is different. It’s a major and my first time in Augusta. It’s very, very impressive. I’m going to tee it up believing that I can win, competing to win. I might do it; I might not, but that’s how I do it.

“This week everybody feels special at Augusta National. It’s a course that it’s proven that it fits any kind of player. You’ve had right-handers, left-handers, drawers, faders, short-hitters win. I do think it suits my game. “It certainly suits my eye.”

(USA Today/TNS)

Day smiling again after tough time

Augusta National is a happy place for many elite golfers and the smell of Azaleas and Georgia pines had a smile back on Jason Day’s face on Tuesday as the Australian wrapped up his Masters practice round.

While it was the type of sun-kissed morning that had everyone from Augusta groundskeepers to Green Jacketed members grinning from earto-ear, Day had much more to smile about as he reported his mother Dening was winning her battle with lung cancer and might even make it to the Masters to cheer on her son.

It was a far different Day facing the world’s media on Tuesday from the emotionally shattered young man who announced he was pulling out of the WGC-Dell Match Play after a handful of holes last month as tears of despair dripped down his face while he explained he had to go be with his mother.

Certainly it has not been the ideal buildup to the year’s first major for Day, dealing with his mother’s illness, a sore back and a stalled campaign that has produced just one top-10 finish.

The world No. 3 will consider himself a big winner this week no matter what the result.

“As everyone knows, my mum, she went through a successful surgery on her left lung and she was told by the doctor, don’t have to do chemo,” a beaming Day told reporters.

Though not all Masters memories are happy ones.

Day has had his share of heartache at Augusta National finishing runner-up in 2011 and letting a two-shot lead with three holes to play slip away in 2013 and watching compatriot Adam Scott become the first Australian to don the Green Jacket.

But after recent events a reflective and philosophical Day was better able to put his career and life into perspective. “We’re very selfish in our ways,” said Day. “You just forget that maybe you should have spent a little bit more time with your family and spending more time with them and just enjoying your life.” (Reuters)