The Round Table: Masters stories, bets and sentimental favourites

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

The Masters is never short on intriguing stories – from past champions to current first-timers, from the golf course to the clubhouse, and everything in between. What story do you find most compelling this year?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): It may not be the most compelling story, but I wonder how awkward it’ll be when Gary Player takes part in the ceremonial Opening Drive.  Player must be persona non grata at Augusta after publicly whining about not being allowed to bring his three sons to play a casual round.  He’s not a member of Augusta, so that’s the rule.  I’m surprised that he wasn’t uninvited to do the Opening Drive and just leave it to Nicklaus and Watson (or possibly add Raymond Floyd instead of Player.)  Otherwise, can McIlroy repeat.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): This seems like the official passing of the torch, Phil/Tiger past due, and an open Masters with no absolute/sure favourite. To me that’s the most compelling storyline here, more than any other year this feels like a wide-open Major, where one of 10-15 players could win, nobody is totally dominating the game right now.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: For some unknown reason, I have seen more information about the facilities than before. I watched a great video about the Driving Range which cost $140M and the Past Champions’ more exclusive range (the original). I’ve followed several hole-by-hole journeys with players like Rory and Scottie. There have been far more tours of the clubhouse, the locker room, dining room, media center and cottages all of which are impeccably elegant, polished yet subtle. The newest addition is the Players’ Locker Room and Lounge located right behind the Driving Range tee. It is spectacular! It includes a gorgeous patio that sits overlooking the range, behind the stadium seats and is shielded by beautiful shrubbery. The players can relax with each other, sitting in the sun but secretly positioned out of sight. And more has been made of the Champions’ Dinner including the ‘leak’ from Adam Scott that his invoice was for $20,000. I’d love to spend a day or two there just walking around.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I think the storyline that will emerge is one of the top players that has yet to don a Green Jacket will win, and others will be in the mix.  I think Bryson, Aberg and Hovland will all be in contention and it will be nice to see someone take on Scottie, who will no doubt be lurking on Sunday.  Although Rory has all the pressure off his shoulders, I don’t see him contending this year; it’s time for a first timer to win.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver:  It may be the book on Rory’s personal trials, tribulations, and predilections due for release this week and how he handles the fallout during what should have just been a glorious celebration until the first tee Thursday. That and Eldrick private jetting across the ocean rather than Ubering home have taken the ‘golf’ out of the pre-Masters. Still, once the tourney begins “on the back nine on Sunday”, here’s hoping it’s golf its ownself that is the most compelling story.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine: Course knowledge is a huge advantage at Augusta, so it’s always interesting to see which rookies can figure out the course, handle the pressure and contend on Sunday. Several names pop out this year based on their recent success on the PGA Tour and around the world: Chris Gotterup, Jacob Bridgeman, Ben Griffin and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. No rookie has won a green jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Last year, Rory McIlroy was the sentimental favourite to complete his personal Grand Slam. Done! Who’s the sentimental favourite to get a green jacket this year?

Deeks: For me, no question.  Justin Rose.

Loughry: There are only two for me that would be stand out sentimental favourites: Rose or Spieth. Rose losing in the playoff last year and playing really well leading into it, and Spieth with so many scars, but playing well (not great) as of late. Give me Spieth all day though, I’d love to see him find some form and somehow win, it would be a popular win.

Schurman: I’m afraid to be boring but Rory is my choice. He imploded a couple of times, and I felt sick for him. He and Scottie are the “Big Three” of our time. I love when they win. Don’t forget, some of Rory’s career was in the Tiger era that always sucks the life out of any accomplishments. Unfortunately, we are going to have to endure a bunch of Tiger stories this year but for the wrong reasons.

Rule: Easy pick – it’s Justin Rose.  He came so close and was so gracious in defeat as always.  There isn’t a golf fan out there that doesn’t want him to win, and hopefully he can put himself in a position come Sunday again this year. He’s in good form, so you never know.

Quinn: He’s a such a good guy — aside from being gracious and kind to our daughters at a chance meeting many years ago — and like Justin Rose still works so hard at staying relevant, it would make for a wonderful Sunday evening if Adam Scott could get another jacket. It’s been a while, 2013, since his first but for a generation that still recognizes and appreciates dignity in the face of triumph and defeat, Scott winning would be heart warming.

Mumford: Sentiment typically favours nice guys who came close but didn’t quite get it done or players that suffered a heart-wrenching loss. Justin Rose easily heads that list with two playoff losses, but you could add Jordan Spieth for his 2016 12^th hole collapse, Brooks Koepka for his 2023 back-nine fade and Ludvig Aberg who came close in 2024. Tommy Fleetwood and Jason Day seem like good guys who would be popular Masters winners too.

The top five betting favourites to win the Masters are Scheffler, Rahm, DeChambeau, McIlroy and Aberg. Would you take a combination of those five or the field?

Deeks: I’d take the field.  Almost anybody can win.

Loughry: I do think the winner comes from the group of five. But I wouldn’t count out Patrick Reed, he’s playing really well lately and knows Augusta, and always seems to play well there.

Schurman: The Masters favours the favourites. Players have to be gifted with or learn the specific shots to play the course. They must ‘turn’ the ball in both directions, have incredible distance control with their irons and be a great lag putter. Very few level lies are granted. The most common and awkward at key times is ‘a ball above your feet’ calling for a high draw with danger on the left. Another is the same lie but calling for a ‘sliding’ fade. The fairways are tightly cut making precise contact difficult and hitting anything “short sided” is close to an automatic bogey. I’ll take the five favourites but Morikawa, Penge, Knapp, Potgieter and Bridgeman could be lurking.

Rule: Tough one, as I mentioned before that I thought it would be a first timer, so that takes three of those guys out of the mix.  But two of my top picks are there.  Given that Bryson is my top pick, I’ll take those 5 against the field. You know Scheffler will be there, so it’s a pretty good bet in the end, I think. Can’t wait to watch the action.

Quinn: As stomach-turning as it is that the Tour is in bed with a betting app — the number of youths seeking gambling addiction help has skyrocketed — there will be millions of suckers betting millions on the Masters. Over the decades have never wagered more than a beer at the 19th on any round, but to answer the question, would take the field — and not bet the mortgage.

Mumford: I don’t see an overwhelming favourite, so I’m inclined to take the field. The head says DeChambeau, the heart says Rose, my gut is screaming Spieth. I haven’t asked any other body parts.