The 2024 Masters area has been set, after the 89th and ultimate place went to 22-year-old gun Akshay Bhatia after his rollercoaster playoff win on the Valero Texas Open.
There shall be six Aussies in rivalry for the primary main of the yr, with novice Jasper Stubbs becoming a member of a star-studded checklist of pros together with former winner Adam Scott, LIV star Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, and Cameron Davis.
On Fox Sports activities’ particular Aussies on the Masters preview present, 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy and fellow former skilled participant Paul Gow ran the rule over the six opponents from down underneath – and rated their probabilities of incomes that sought-after inexperienced jacket.
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Adam Scott (world No. 52)
Scott, Australia’s solely winner of the famed occasion, is again for a whopping twenty third time. He’s made the minimize in 20 of his 22 begins – together with for the final 14 years working.
He returns to Augusta in cheap kind, with a tied-14th total end on the Valero Texas Open on the weekend – a match that had a ridiculous sudden-death playoff ending.
The dependable competitor has struggled to place collectively the form of spectacular efficiency at Augusta to repeat his 2013 heroics, however his placing – lengthy seen as a serious challenge in his sport – is at present in impolite kind.
Paul Gow mentioned: “He’s an excellent individual for the younger youngsters to play with as a result of he is aware of each blade of grass there! He’s snug each time he goes again there. He began this yr out fairly stable, not nice – however there’s some thrilling elements of Adam’s sport.”
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Wanting on the stats, Gow added: “He’s driving the ball not-so-good however Augusta is broad off the tee. His iron play is simply okay, he’s getting it spherical there – however he’s twenty second in placing averages on the PGA Tour already this yr.
“Everybody’s at all times made a press release about his placing (being poor), it’s wanting sensational!
“If he will get the others on track, as an alternative of the opposite method round the place his hitting and driving has been distinctive (however his placing has struggled). His placing is phenomenal (now), he’s obtained to deliver these in. I believe within the off weeks he’s been engaged on that.”
Scott is actually motivated so as to add to that 2013 triumph. He mentioned not too long ago, through Golf Weekly, that majors are his key motivation: “To win tournaments and actually, with a give attention to the main championships. That is why I nonetheless push myself in the present day.
“I’ve been fortunate to win plenty of tournaments in my profession, however I’ve dreamt about being a a number of main winner and that dream could be very a lot alive so I’m going to push exhausting for it this yr.”
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Cam Smith is ‘going to be robust to beat’ | 01:18
Cam Smith (No. 62)
The previous world quantity two may need tumbled down the rankings since his transfer to LIV Golf, however he has a robust historical past at Augusta and is in sturdy kind, with two top-10 finishes in 5 LIV occasions this season.
Geoff Ogilvy mentioned: “It’s exhausting to get a really feel for a way these LIV gamers are enjoying as a result of we don’t see them towards everybody else each week.
“However Cam Smith is a big-meet performer in case you like, he at all times appears to point out up for the massive tournaments. He’s had two or three actually good weeks round Augusta over time, he got here actually shut in 2020.”
He added: “He’s obtained the elements. He’s sneaky lengthy off the tee. And he simply has an unbelievable knack – virtually that Jordan Spieth knack – of simply making a rating even when it’s not going nicely.
“An unbelievable brief sport, (he’s) probably the greatest putters on the earth. When the lights go on at a giant match, Cam appears to deliver the very best … Cam involves one thing just like the Masters and he’s going to be a tricky man to beat.”
The one fear is that Smith was compelled to drag out of final weekend’s LIV Miami occasion after meals poisoning.
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Jason Day (No. 22)
The 36-year-old received the 2015 PGA Championship, nevertheless it’s been a very long time since his finest end on the Masters, a tie for second in 2011. Now showing at his thirteenth Masters, a profession resurgence within the final couple of years has him well-placed to compete once more – particularly with three top-ten finishes in eight occasions in 2024.
“He’s been enjoying very well the final two years,” Ogilvy mentioned.
“He went by way of a fairly documented (robust interval) … his again was a bit tough, he had a complete bunch of kinks, I believe he kind of obtained a bit jaded with the entire thing.
“However (he’s confirmed) a new-found enthusiasm for the sport the final couple of years, he’s modified his swing with (coach) Chris Como to ease a little bit of strain on his again.
“He appears to be hitting the ball actually, very well. We all know he could make large putts and he’s an incredible scrambler and he’s performed nicely on the Masters earlier than.”
“It could be throwing again the clock just a little bit, however he actually has the pedigree to stand up there within the combine,” Ogilvy added.
Min Woo Lee set for third Masters | 01:15
Min Woo Lee (No. 32)
The 25-year-old has lengthy been tipped for a breakout efficiency at a serious, and this yr could be the time it lastly occurs. He enters in constant kind, with seven occasions this yr leading to six made cuts and one second place end.
Tied 14th at 2022 Masters, tied fifth on the Open final yr.
Paul Gow mentioned: “Speaking about somebody who loves the massive stage and embraces the massive stage, that’s Min Woo Lee.
“Nice begin to the yr, he’s made six out of seven cuts. One high ten – which was a second.
His driving, all of the stats there after we take a look at his sport, they’re simply okay.
However his scrambling is phenomenal. Which means his brief sport, his chipping and his pitching, is getting lots higher.”
He added: “I’m certain there’s sure kinds of photographs that he wants at Augusta that they’ve been engaged on within the low season, that’s how they do issues. They’re very thorough with their preparation.”
“In 2022 I watched it really … he feels snug round a golf course like Augusta.”
Cameron Davis (No. 60)
The 29-year-old has been an expert since 2016, however that is simply his second look at Augusta after ending forty sixth again in 2022. He’s not in elite kind up to now in 2024, with no top-ten finishes from his seven occasions.
Gow mentioned: “Cam’s profession was at all times going to be a gradual development, which it has been … now he’s a winner on the US Tour.
“Placing hasn’t been one in every of his nice elements, however this yr it has been – he’s performed seven occasions for 5 cuts and numerous stable placing.
“We all know how good his ball-striking is, his driving’s distinctive. You could be a little wider off the tee which can assist him right here. His irons should be on track.”
Davis’s relative inexperience means his preparation shall be essential, and Gow added: “Hopefully Cam will get to play apply rounds with the Jason Days and Adam Scotts of the world they usually can present him across the golf course.”
“Enthusiastic about it each single day!” | 04:08
Jasper Stubbs (No. 335 – novice rank)
He could be an novice, however the gifted 21-year-old isn’t going to Augusta simply to sightsee. He earned his berth with a win on the Asia Pacific Novice Championship at Royal Melbourne final October, which additionally offers him a spot in The Open this yr.
He performed a spherical at Augusta in February as a part of his preparation – which he says has been always on his thoughts since reserving his place within the Masters.
“I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that I wasn’t interested by it nearly each single day for the final six months now,” Stubbs mentioned on Fox Sports activities’ Aussies on the Masters preview present.
“It’s been one thing I’ve been working in the direction of for that lengthy.
“But it surely’s been exhausting to maintain it out of the thoughts, for certain.”
He says he’ll be searching for ideas from his countrymen who boast loads of expertise round Augusta.
“It’ll be superior to play with the likes of Scotty, Cam, Min Woo, all these guys who’ve been on the Masters earlier than and decide their brains whereas I’m there,” Stubbs mentioned.
“Clearly I’ve seen it (the course) a few instances already, however I believe their data shall be invaluable.”
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Ogilvy was filled with reward for his efficiency on the Asia Pacific Novice Championship, particularly with the strain of a Masters berth on the road.
However the former main winner mentioned: “(It’s an) unbelievable expertise for him. It’s an extended shot for him to stand up there within the combine, however hopefully he can get in there for 4 rounds.”
“He clearly has all of the instruments, however first time spherical it’s a tricky place. The nerves can get to you. However hopefully he can get off to an honest begin, get into the match and play the rounds and simply see the way it goes.
“It’s simply such a thrill to play there for the primary time.”