Six stars sizing up the Green Jacket

Dustin Johnson The defending champion, pre-tournament favourite and world No.1.

The 36-yearold from South Carolina has only played in five tournaments since winning his first US Masters at Augusta in November.

He has not been displaying the sort of form that saw him dominate the world game in 2020 and triumph four times.

Johnson believes playing in the wind in Hawaii, Saudi Arabia, where he prevailed by two shots in February, and Los Angeles has affected his posture. But he has not been outside the top 10 in the Masters in his last five visits.

Justin Thomas

The former US PGA champion was one of five players tied for the halfway lead in last year’s US Masters, but he fell away with disappointing rounds of 70 and 71 and finished eight shots behind winner Dustin Johnson. He will be determined to keep his challenge going this time.

Thomas has improved steadily since making his debut at Augusta at 2016 – he has finished in ties for 39th, 22nd, 17th and 12th and was fourth by himself last time.

The 27-yearold won The Players Championship at Sawgrass last month and is playing well enough to challenge.

Bryson DeChambeau

The US Open champion went into last year’s US Masters with confidence soaring after romping to his first Major triumph by six strokes two months earlier.

The big-hitting Californian boldly declared the Georgia course would be a par 67 for him because he could reach all of the par-five holes in two shots. Alas, he finished in a tie for 34th. In his final round, his playing partner Bernhard Langer, who was 63, beat him by two shots.

The Professor will be keen to make amends. He is certainly in decent form. In his last two strokeplay tournaments he has won and finished third.

Brooks Koepka

Beware the injured golfer. The Floridian did not expect to be in the field for the US Masters after slipping and dislocating his kneecap last month. He underwent surgery to reattach a ligament the following day and his joint was put in a brace.

The double US PGA and two-time US Open champion has worked tirelessly to get himself fit and he is confident he will be able to contend for his first green jacket this week.

The 30-yearold, who won the Phoenix Open and was second in the Workday Championship in February, has come second and seventh in his last two Augusta appearances.

Jordan Spieth The Texan ended a fouryear winless run in San Antonio on Sunday when he shot a finalround 66 to triumph in the Valero Texas Open by two shots from Charley Hoffmann.

The victory had been coming for the 27-year-old; he had recorded four top-10 finishes in his previous six starts on the PGA Tour.

Spieth will be looking forward to the US Masters. He recorded four top-three finishes in his first five appearances and won in 2015.

Donning another green jacket would cap a remarkable return to form for the threetime Major winner.

Jon Rahm

The Spaniard became a father last Saturday when his wife Kelley gave birth to their son Kepa. Could he become a Major winner for the first time on Sunday? There is every chance.

The 26-yearold has played consistently well in 2021 and has recorded five top-10 finishes in seven tournaments. His track record in the US Masters is outstanding too. He has been in the top 10 on three occasions in four appearances.

Spaniards have done rather well at Augusta. Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia have all prevailed. Rahm could easily join them.