With Tiger Woods’ win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Rory McIlroy’s triumph a few weeks ago at the Honda Classic, the golf world is abuzz as the Masters approaches. But who should be the favorite at Augusta National next week? The GolfChannel.com team weighs in.
By REX HOGGARD
ORLANDO, Fla. – As of late Sunday most betting houses had Rory McIlory and Tiger Woods co-favorites for this year’s Masters at 4.5 to 1 and following Woods’ Bay Hill breakthrough that seems about right.
But in the interest of clarity, the pre-tournament advantage would go to the Ulsterman.
Sure Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five strokes and seems fully at home within the confines of Sean Foley’s new swing, but it’s impossible to ignore the body of work McIlroy has amassed over the past 12 months.
Through three rounds last year at Augusta National, McIlroy was four strokes clear of the field before a mid-round meltdown sent him spiraling down the leaderboad. His bounce-back major two months later at Congressional was nothing short of Tiger-like.
There is also Woods’ own play over the last few months to consider. Late last year he was a stroke clear of the field at the Australian Open but was blown away with a Saturday 75 and finished alone in third place.
Earlier this season he was tied for the lead through three rounds in Abu Dhabi but signed for a closing 72 to tie for third. And at Pebble Beach, he was four strokes back after three rounds, set out on Sunday paired with Phil Mickelson and was outplayed by Lefty by 11 strokes and finished tied for 15th.
Even before his injury-induced withdrawal on Sunday at Doral and his masterpiece at Bay Hill, Woods was penciled in as the 1A Masters favorite. But McIlroy is still No. 1.
By JASON SOBEL
ORLANDO, Fla. – Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further: The “favorite” at a given tournament and the “predicted champion” are two completely different things.
Just because I’m able to enlist a favorite prior to an event doesn’t mean I think he’ll win; conversely, choosing a player to prevail shouldn’t mean the betting odds are in his favor.
With that in mind, I believe the favorite going into the upcoming Masters should be Tiger Woods.
The reasons behind such a selection should be obvious to even the most casual golf fan. Woods is coming off a victory in his final start prior to the year’s first major championship, claiming the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a whopping five-stroke differential. He also owns more green jackets than anybody else in the field and more experience contending on Sunday afternoon than any of his fellow competitors, too.
If that’s not enough, let’s try a little trial and error.
Rory McIlroy owns a world of talent … but the last time he led at Augusta, he pulled a tee shot left of left and eventually finished in a share of 15th place. Luke Donald is ranked No. 1 in the world … but he has yet to play his best golf at the majors. Phil Mickelson is only one Masters win behind Woods … but he’s finished outside the top-20 in each of his last two starts.
That’s not to say none of them can’t win, because they’re all very capable – and, in fact, I may just pick one of ‘em to do it.
The question here, though, is in regard to which player should be the favorite. That honor goes, without a doubt, to Woods.
By JAY COFFIN
ORLANDO, Fla. – I need a ruling. Who is the “favorites” czar? Who makes the rules on favorites? Does there have to be one favorite? Why can’t there be co-favorites? I need to know…
I believe that Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are co-favorites for the Masters. But since that won’t fly in this argument – and since I despise being a fence-rider – I’m going with McIlroy.
Full disclosure, though: if I had the first pick in a Masters draft, I’d take Woods. But with McIlroy’s body of work over the past 12 months he deserves to be recognized as the favorite.
Woods’ victory was just one good week. Granted it could lead to another great week in Augusta, but McIlroy hasn’t played poorly since the PGA Championship in August, where he damaged his wrist in the first round and was just happy to complete that major.
Since that steamy week in Atlanta, McIlroy’s worst finish was an 11th-place tie at the Dubai World Championship. None of the other 11 finishes were outside the top 5, nine were inside the top 3.
Woods’ four green jackets and history at Augusta National, coupled with his dominant performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational have people in a tizzy. I get that.
Still, recently, McIlroy has been better, more often.