Phil Mickelson
BY NICK KONOW
The 2017 Masters will be won by a familiar face at Augusta National Golf Club. Phil Mickelson, who turns 47 in June, will take fans on one final thrill ride and capture his fourth green jacket.
While Mickelson has not won an event since the 2013 Open Championship, he has made a career of contending at major championships, specifically The Masters. This may be because lefties have the right touch at Augusta.
With the way the course is laid out, left-handed golfers have an inherent advantage at Augusta National. We have seen Mickelson take advantage of this in the past along with other golfers who have recently won the tournament while playing from the wrong side of the ball, such as Mike Weir and Bubba Watson.
Mickelson also seems to be on his game so far this year. He has five top-25 finishes in eight events. Given Mickelson’s previous success at this tournament, making 20 of 23 cuts at Augusta, he has a great chance of winning this year.
Mickelson has proven time and time again he can come through when it matters most. You know who has been a proven choke-artist? Oh yeah, that’d be Kevin’s pick: Jordan Spieth. Spieth is good, but there’s no way he can rebound from that terrible finish in last year’s tournament.
Spieth’s chances of winning this tournament are like his hair ‒ thin. Bet on the guy Mickelson would, and probably has, bet on – himself.
Jordan Spieth
BY KEVIN LINDGREN
The 2017 Masters is underway, and though there are many participants with a chance to win, I believe Jordan Spieth will win The 2017 Masters.
In 2015, Spieth won both The Masters and the U.S. Open. At only 23 years old, Spieth is considered one of the best golfers in the game, and he is only getting better.
Spieth began 2016 by winning the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, recording a -30 under par over 72 holes, a feat that has only been matched by Hall of Famer Ernie Els.
Although Spieth was unable to win The Masters again in 2016 after a disappointing final round, he is back with a vengeance. Currently ranked as the sixth-best golfer in the world, Spieth is looking to add to his already-impressive resume.
While Nick will tell you that, Phil Mickelson, will capture the title, he is incorrect. While Mickelson has historically played well at Augusta he is just too old and missed out on his last chance to win back in 2015 when he finished tied for second. Phil is 46 years old and the only other person to win when they were 46 was Jack Nicklaus. While Mickelson is a legend, he’s nowhere near the Golden Bear.
Spieth, meanwhile, finished first and second at the masters in 2015 and 2016, respectively. He understands how to conquer the course. Spieth will shake off the demons from last year’s final round collapse to don the green jacket once again.
