I’m ready.
87th Masters Tournament
Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia
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Bolton’s Bonanza
I’d tell you to follow him on Twitter but if you’re here you probably ain’t on Twitter! @RobBoltonGolf just in case!
2023 Qualifiers for PLAYERS, majors
NOW PLAYING:
First major.
Green jacket.
Infamy.
All of the pressure.
The 87th Masters will welcome 49 of the top 50 players in the OWGR.
| Host Course | Augusta National Golf Club. |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,545. |
| Par: | 72 (36-36). |
| Greens: | Penn-A1 Bentgrass; 6,500 square feet. |
| Stimpmeter: | 13 feet. |
| Second Cut: | Ryegrass at 1.375 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In Play | 44/6/5. |
| Architect(s): | Dr Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones (1933). |
| Purse: | To be announced; 600 FedExCup points. |
| Defending Champion: | Scottie Scheffler. |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered (under 55): | Tiger Woods (5), Phil Mickelson (3), Bubba Watson (2). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record: | 268; Dustin Johnson (-20), 2020. |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (April): | 271; Jordan Spieth (-17), 2015. Tiger Woods (-17), 1997. |
| Course Record: | 63; Greg Norman, Nick Price. |
| Oldest Winner: | Jack Nicklaus, 46, 1986. |
| Youngest Winner: | Tiger Woods, 21, 1997. |
| Fact of the Week: | Only Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) have defended. |
Notes:
- Field of 88.
- 49 of the top 50 OWGR entered (Aaron Wise WD).
- Top 50 and ties play the final 36 holes.
- Seven amateurs.
- 20 previous champions.
- 9 players on debut.
Season Winners
2022-2023 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Fortinet Championship | Max Homa |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Mackenzie Holmes |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Keegan Bradley |
| CJ CUP at CONGAREE | Rory McIlroy |
| Butterfield Bermuda Championship | Seamus Power |
| Mayakoba Championship | Russell Henley |
| Cadence Bank Houston Open | Tony Finau |
| The RSM Classic | Adam Svensson (first TOUR win) |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
Recent Winners
Italics – not entered this week
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler (-10) | Four putted the last hole and still won by three. Won on third attempt. |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama (-10) | First Asian player to win. Only player to post 10-under. Won on his 10th attempt. |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson (-20) | Tournament record set in only November edition (Covid-19). |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods (-13) | Won for the 5th time, one behind Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record. |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed (-15) | Won his first major championship. Fourth attempt at Augusta. |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia (-9) | Defeated Justin Rose in the last playoff; Won on his 19th attempt, the most by four for a first-time winner. |
| 2016 | Danny Willett (-5) | Second highest winning total since 1990. First Englishman to win since Sir Nick Faldo in 1996. |
This Week
Can’t fake it (again) this week! Greg Norman wasn’t remembered for his putting, right? Better be able to work it in the breeze tee to green and pick up the pieces when blown off course.
Making great shots count on the greens will keep the stress off the scorecard. Some guys don’t like Bermuda. Some guys don’t like wind. You get both this week so filter them out!
The pressure of winning for the first time is real but this course accepts solid ball-striking. Not many gimmicks to avoid or navigate and only three water penalty areas, including 18, are on the property. Only two holes have forced carries so keeping it out of the wind and on the deck can work as well.
It appears the weather will be a major factor on the weekend. Another check mark for experience.
Chalk (via BetMGM)
Scottie Scheffler (+700): Defending champ. Stick him for a top 10 and enjoy. If he goes back-to-back to join Jack, Tiger and Sir Nick, I’ll stand and applaud.
Rory McIlroy (+700): This will be his ninth attempt at the career grand slam. Has anyone mentioned that this week or is it still the guys from the other TOUR? Should be focused and ready to go.
Jon Rahm (+900): Math is lining up as Seve won his second 40 years ago. Never missed in six previous tries.
Jordan Spieth (+1800): My main artist on his favorite canvas. Short game grinder won’t hurt if the weather turns this weekend.
Patrick Cantlay (+1800): Heat trumps history. Perhaps.
Justin Thomas (+2200): Interesting to see if this is the environment that will flip the switch in 2023. I’d stick a top 10 ticket on just in case.
Tony Finau (+2200): Another to watch when the wind blows on the weekend. Top 10.
Cameron Smith (+2500): Just three events (54 holes each) for the fellas on the circuit. It’s your money, do what you like.
Collin Morikawa (+2500): Shot 67 next to McIlroy’s 64 to close last year for solo fifth. Best round, best finish.
Dustin Johnson (+2500): Top LIV.
Jason Day (+2500): Win and top 5 and top 10 and top 20.
Xander Schauffele (+2500): Loved him more before he was drawn with Woods and the circus that goes along with that for 36 holes.
Max Homa (+2800): Just go play, man. Top 20 and skinny top 10.
Cameron Young (+3300): 77-77 last year was last year. Smoking form. You’ll have a decision to make here.
Sungjae Im (+3300): Quick study here including T8 last year. First made cut in April.
Top 10/Top 20/Top 40
Shane Lowry (+5000): Fairway finder and great putter. Love that combo.
Tommy Fleetwood (+6600): Trending here. Best was last year. Check HFC.
Sahith Theegala (+12500): Hit every green and see what happens.
Seamus Power (+15000): Let’s get breeeeeezzzzzzyyyyy.
Longer Shots
Use ’em wherever you see fit! All players listed are +20000 or worse and are for a reason or two!
Cameron Champ (+25000): Never finished outside the top 30 in 3 visits.
Sepp Straka (+30000): Strike them balls.
Gordon Sargent (+35000): First special invite amateur since 2000? Is that right? Go on, NCAA champ!
OAD Pick/Recap
Last Week – Valero Texas Open
MY CHOICE: Rickie Fowler
As usual, didn’t threaten the top of the leaderboard, but a back door top 10 works for me. Matt Kuchar (T3) was the next choice and of course I didn’t get it correct!
Sad!
| Already Burned |
| Sungjae Im – Maui |
| Tom Kim – Sony |
| Tom Hoge – AMEX |
| Viktor Hovland – Pebble |
| Xander Schauffele – WMPO |
| Max Homa – Riviera |
| Shane Lowry – Honda |
| Tyrrell Hatton – API |
| Akshay Bhatia – PRO |
| Jason Day – THE PLAYERS |
| Justin Rose – Valspar |
| Cam Percy – Corales |
| Scottie Scheffler – WGC MP |
| Rickie Fowler – Valero |
This Week – 87th Masters
MY CHOICE: Jordan Spieth
McIlroy was the other leading contender. I don’t think you can go wrong with either this week. Spieth can be saved for Colonial while McIlroy will return to Royal Liverpool this summer, the site of his Open Championship in 2014.
Others to consider: Xander Schauffele, Jason Day, Justin Thomas.
Last Week – Valero Texas Open
Chalk (via BetMGM)
Tyrrell Hatton (+1200): Went from lowest back nine in PLAYERS history and a closing 65 to shaking his right hand on the range at Match Play and not winning a match. Volatility? You got it baby! 70-75 MC.
Rickie Fowler (+1600): Win and he’s in. Been here done this as this is the third consecutive season of putting himself in this position. The other two were MC-T17. Third times and charms. T10.
Si Woo Kim (+1800): Sony champ racking up top 30s for fun. Only cash outside is T39 at a brutal Bay Hill. T39 with a nine!.
Corey Conners (+2000): Super tee to green and never misses here. WINNER.
Chris Kirk (+2500): Already a winner this season and already a winner in Texas. Lovely combination. T10.
Hideki Matsuyama (+2500): Pesky stiff neck has been bothering him on and off for a year. WD here last year with the same ailment. T15 and didn’t WD. Big for this week.
Top 10/Top 20/Top 40
Matt Kuchar (+2800): Plays here annually and plays well including his last three visits (T2-T12-T7). Gave it a run all week before cashing T3. Boom.
Cam Davis (+4000): Aussies and wind and all that. 80-66. Myth debunked. MC.
Ryan Fox (+4000): Haven’t seen anything to scare me off. Tee to green monster. 75-75 MC.
Adam Schenk (+5500): Career best at Valspar. Took last week off. After MC, he returned to Indiana to show up at a junior event on Sunday. Classy.
Sam Stevens (+8000): OK St won’t mind wind. Super ball-striker. Solo Second. Boom.
Charley Hoffman (+10000): Can’t ignore this course horse. If he’s going to find form it’s going to be this week on this course. T22 on his favorite track.
Long Shots
Use ’em wherever you see fit! All players listed are +10000 or worse and are for a reason or two!
Kramer Hickok (+10000) – Almost last.
Ryan Palmer (+10000) – MC.
Harry Hall (+10000) – T28.
Dylan Frittelli (+12500) – Last.
MJ Daffue (+12500) – T15.
Henrik Norlander (+15000) – T60
Brent Grant (+20000) – MC
Jason Dufner (+40000) – T60
Glass Houses 