Green light for Watson, others
AUGUSTA. Ga. — We’re all craving a Masters that will give us a story for the ages, as Jim Nantz would put it. C’mon, Tiger, Phil or Rory, is it too much to ask that one of you wins? Or will we be served another Danny Willett or Trevor Immelman?
Here are five players to watch, with bovada.lv odds, plus Teddy Greenstein’s pick.
Augusta National should be to McIlroy what Yankee Stadium was to Babe Ruth. How does he not birdie every par-5? McIlroy comes to Augusta seeking a career Grand Slam but realizing nothing is owed to him: “I never come here thinking this is my turn. It’s never your turn. You have to go out and get it.”
Many wrote him off after an opening 76 — and eventual missed cut — last month in the Valspar Championship. Even Spieth said he was wondering “what the heck happened” and “what in the world” had replaced his brilliant putting stroke. But a tie for third last week in the Houston Open has Spieth feeling like he’s ready to win again among the azaleas.
Question: Can you drive the ball all over Richmond County, Ga., and still win the Masters? A follow-up: Can you return to the peak of your profession less than a year after entering rehab for addiction to prescription painkillers? Woods, who has four green jackets and seven more top-five finishes, hopes to find out. TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS MLB
I had Tommy Fleetwood (50-1) in this spot until he was paired for Rounds 1 and 2 with Woods. Garcia doubted himself for years, but after winning the green jacket last year, he finally acts and feels like he belongs. And his ball striking remains as crisp as ever.
They don’t get much more local than Kisner, who hails from nearby Aiken, S.C., and played at Georgia. Plus he’s relaxed and funny, once asking, “You think I’m scared of Dustin Johnson ’cause he hits it 350?” Kisner made it to the final of the Match Play event two weeks ago before getting steamrolled by Bubba Watson. Speaking of …
Tempting to take Justin Rose (14-1), whose playoff bogey on No. 18 last year allowed Garcia to win his first major. As for Watson, who won here in 2012 and 2014, I’m bastardizing the “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” mantra from “Friday Night Lights”: Clear mind, full heart, big hook, can’t lose.