Armchair Guide to The Masters

POTENTIAL WINNER
PHIL MICKELSON

“If we take Tiger out of the equation, you’ve always got to say Phil. He’s up there year after year after year. He’s just got it at Augusta and loves everything there. He’s been working with Dave Stockton and changed his putting, which seemed to work fantastically well, and now has slightly run aground, but he would be the stand-out candidate this year.”

BRITISH CHANCE
PAUL CASEY

“It’s very tricky to pick between Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, but I’d pick Casey. He’s got a good record at Augusta and he loves playing the course. He hits the ball hard and high, which is very beneficial, and he’s had an amazing comeback from his rib injury. I think he’s got the confidence and ability to win a Masters.”

SURPRISE PACKAGE
MATTEO MANASSERO

“He’s a real long shot but I don’t think people realise just how good the lad is. He’s turning pro the week after so there’s an element of having nothing to lose. He knows he can play well in Majors – he could have won The Open. He’s not a normal 16-year-old. He’s a big, strong young man and doesn’t look frightened of anything. I think he could get a top 10.”

CARD WRECKER
12TH – PAR 3 – 155 YARDS

“You look at the card and think ‘that’s not going to cause any problems’, but nothing could be further from the truth. More often than not, it’s not a misjudgement with the club but the fact you think ‘I don’t want to go in the water’ at the last minute and pull it long and left. Wherever you miss the green, it’s awkward to get down in two.”

SCORING CHANCE
13TH – PAR 5 – 510 YARDS

“All the par 5s are birdie chances but the 13th is probably the best chance now. At 510 yards it’s reachable in two, but fraught with all sorts of dangers. It entices you to go for it and if you can really hit it round the corner off the tee you’re getting there with a 4 or 5-iron. Get it right and you can make an eagle or birdie, but get it wrong and you can make six.”

ACE ATTEMPT
16TH – PAR 3 – 170 YARDS

“When the pin’s on the left, which it often is on Sunday, the slope gathers the ball towards the hole. It’s a tough par 3 if the pin’s front or back right but it’s usually in that lefthand area on two days with the chance of an ace. Hit it to the back-centre of the green and let the ball come trickling back down – and hopefully in! There have been 11 holes-in-one here.”