Tour Confidential: And your new Masters favorite is … Bubba Watson?
GOLF.com conducts a weekly roundtable with writers from Sports Illustrated and GOLF Magazine. Check in every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
1. After going nearly two years without a victory and dropping out of the top 100, Bubba Watson has now picked up two wins in his last four starts following his victory at the WGC Match Play on Sunday. Now he’s getting ready for Augusta, where he’s already won twice. How many Masters favorites would you put ahead of a surging Bubba?
Sean Zak, associate editor, GOLF.com (@sean_zak): Ahead of him? No one. I see it as a six- or seven-horse race between the “favorites.” That includes him, DJ, JT, Phil, Rory, Spieth and Eldrick. Rose, too. There is no single favorite I’d rank higher than the others.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer, GOLF: I like Rory’s chances slightly more than Bubba’s. I would put Bubba right alongside Langer, King Louie, Tiger, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Phil and Daniel Berger. And Fred.
Jeff Ritter, digital development editor, GOLF.com (@Jeff_Ritter): I think I’d slot him third behind Rose and Phil, but any way you frame it, Bubba deserves our full attention as we head to Augusta, and it’s hard to imagine he won’t be a factor at a course that plays right into his strengths.
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Josh Sens, contributing writer, GOLF (@JoshSens): Now that we’ve jinxed him he will probably miss the cut but I’d put his chances, like Sean said, in pretty much the same range as six or seven other guys. If not more. Names like Justin Rose, JT, DJ, Jason Day, Phil and Tiger. How’s that for a hedge?
Dylan Dethier, associate editor, GOLF.com (@dylan_dethier): The fact that Bamberger just slipped “Langer” in with the rest of the crowd of favorites shouldn’t go unnoticed. Here’s a hot take for the crowd: Bubba’s going to miss the cut at Augusta, which is too bad, because he’s a fun character to have in the mix.
John Wood, caddie for Matt Kuchar (@johnwould): I wouldn’t put anyone ahead of him. I’m with Zak in that it’s a six- or seven-horse race with all the names he mentioned. I think some of it will depend on weather. Windy, firm, fast — I’d lean toward someone who already has a green jacket. Wet, relatively windless — one of the bombers. Somewhere in between — anybody’s guess! I honestly have no idea how to go with this. So many horses are throwing their hats into the ring right now, I almost have a feeling someone no one is mentioning may come in and steal the whole thing. It’s gonna be an incredible week.
2. Bubba has won in consecutive months, Spieth is yipping short putts, Phil Mickelson ended his winless drought and, oh yeah, Tiger Woods has finished top 12 in his last three starts. What’s been the most surprising story of the season thus far?
Zak: It’s Tiger. I know we’re a bit removed from poor Tiger play now, but him playing this consistently throughout the entire bag is as surprising as anything considering how awful his entire bag was in 2015.
Sens: Tiger and it is not even close.
Bamberger: I know this is a forum for opinions, but any answer other than Tiger is incorrect.
Dethier: Phil and Bubba both deserve major props, but back from the dead wins “most surprising,” especially when Tiger’s fame acts as a multiplier.
Ritter: I’m aiming for a perfect score on this week’s roundtable, so I will say Tiger. Remember where he was in this comeback last fall? It’s absolutely incredible that he’s already contending on Tour again, and it’s ignited the entire sport.
Wood: Tiger’s quick return to good form, especially his short game and putting.
3. Justin Thomas needed to beat Watson in their semifinals match to supplant Dustin Johnson as the No. 1 player in the world, but he lost 3 and 2 and remains at No. 2. Afterward, Thomas admitted the pressure of thinking about a chance to get to No. 1 got to him. “I haven’t had such a hard time not thinking about something so much,” he said. “And that really sucked. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.” We often hear players say they’re just concerned about winning and all the other honors will take care of themselves. Were you surprised to hear of JT’s fixation on becoming golf’s top dog?
Zak: Not surprised at all. The ranking seems to be an important claim these players can hold and even more impressive when you do it as young as Thomas is. Only a select few get there, and considering Thomas has always tailed Jordan Spieth in accomplishments on Tour, this is another way of eliminating the résumé gap between him (and others). Being No. 1 is the biggest statement you can make. JT isn’t exactly there yet, but he’s the best golfer in the world right now.
Sens: Not surprised. He is a fiery guy and also forthright. Nice to hear an athlete speaking honestly rather than spouting platitudes about letting things fall into place. Also, really, once you’ve won enough money for multiple lifetimes, motivation has to come from somewhere. Why not aim to be the numerical best?
Bamberger: Very surprised. Maybe there’s a major cash incentive to becoming No. 1. Otherwise, it’s largely ceremonial, computer-driven and meaningless.
Ritter: And that’s the surprise: despite the fact that it’s a ceremonial title, JT desperately wants it. Top-ranked players are part of a pretty exclusive club. JT is young, driven and right on the doorstep. I like his candor.
Dethier: It’s the only thing left keeping JT from being the Tour’s official alpha dog. I’m of two minds about it: love the candor but can’t help thinking that Tiger would consider an admission like that blood in the water. Either way, it was believable to viewers.
Wood: I kind of was. He’s been on such a run the last couple of years it almost seemed like he was on auto-pilot. Kudos to him for being honest about it though, that it would mean that much to him and that his mind was divided.
4. Longtime Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup partners Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth faced off in a highly publicized duel on Friday of the WGC Match Play, with Reed winning 2 and 1 and knocking Spieth out of the tournament. Earlier in the week video surfaced of Source: https://golf.com/news/tournaments/tour-confidential-and-your-new-masters-favorite-is-bubba-watson/