Can Dustin join the elite by going back-to-back?
DUSTIN JOHNSON Previous Masters: 10 Best: 1st (2020)
Only three men – Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods – have successfully defended their Masters title, so that shows the illustrious company that Dustin Johnson will be looking to join.
But nobody has bettered Johnson’s 20-under-par winning score, which he recorded on his way to victory back in November.
If he finds that sort of form again, the rest of the field had better watch out.
The world No. 1 has been relatively quiet this year, but he did defend his title in Saudi Arabia on the European Tour in January.
RORY McILROY
Previous Masters: 12 Best: 4th (2015) Whether playing well or badly, it’s impossible to keep Rory McIlroy out of the conversation.
This will be his seventh attempt to add the missing
Major he needs to complete his career Grand Slam. But form-wise, the Northern Irishman seems a long way off.
McIlroy has taken on swing guru, Pete Cowen, but the big question is whether he can find the magic he needs for Augusta from less than two weeks’ work with the Yorkshireman.
However, if one player can go from zero to hero in the blink of an eye, it’s Rory. JORDAN
SPIETH
Previous Masters: 7 Best: 1st (2015) There will be few more popular players with the Augusta patrons than Jordan Spieth.
To the delight of his many fans, there have been signs of encouragement for the Texan in 2021, with a succession of high finishes.
However, he hasn’t quite delivered on a Sunday and he remains winless since the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.
But Spieth knows how to perform at The Masters, with his four top-threes between 2014 and 2018.
SERGIO GARCIA
Previous Masters: 21 Best: 1st (2017) Just when it appeared the light was starting to fade on Sergio Garcia’s career, the Spaniard is fighting back.
Victory at the Sandersons Farms Championship last October was the kickstart, and he comes to Augusta on the back of top-10s in both the Players’ Championship and the WGC World Matchplay.
The way he beat Lee Westwood with a holein-one last week was spectacular, and underlined the enduring excellence of his iron-play.
He missed The Masters in November due to having Coronavirus – his first absence at a Major in more than two decades – so that could make El Nino determined to blow up a storm once again.
TONY FINAU
Previous Masters: 3 Best: T5 (2019) Over the last few years, Tony Finau has been a moneymaking machine, with over £16-million earned on the PGA Tour.
The only problem is that it’s now five years since his sole victory, while in 2021 he has already had four topfour placings without that longed-for next win.
The Utah man is one of the most-powerful athletes in golf, and he can compete on most courses, with topfives at all four Majors.
He played in the final game at Augusta in 2019 alongside Tiger Woods, while he also finished 10th on his debut in 2018 – despite dislocating his ankle in the Par-3 contest on the Wednesday.