Justin Rose
BY COLE BREDAHL
Every year, the Masters brings a lot of excitement to the golf world, and this year is no exception. The anticipation for the tournament this year has been centered on the return of Tiger Woods in his first Masters since 2015. Many believe his improving level of play this season going into the back nine means he is ready to win his fifth Masters, but I believe the victor will be a first-time green jacket winner.
This year, Justin Rose will win the Masters. Last year, Rose seemingly had the tournament won until Sergio Garcia finished strong and beat Rose in the playoff. Rose will harness the frustration of letting a green jacket slip off his back as motivation to win his first.
Rose is coming into the Masters playing his best golf. He finished in the top-five of his last two tournaments and already has three victories this season. He currently is the No. 5 in the world golf rankings.
Rose has also had success at Augusta National finishing in the top-25 of the last eight Masters he played in. He was the runner-up in 2015 and 2017. Despite just one major win in his career at the U.S. Open in 2013, Rose always seems to be hanging around the top group, but just hasn’t been able to finish. This year will be his year to break through and join the most elite group of golfers when he puts on his first green jacket.
Rory McElroy
BY BEAU WOODCOCK
Rory McElroy is only a Masters win away from the career Grand Slam, and this weekend in Augusta, he is finally going to complete the achievement. He took care of the 18-month winless streak last weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and it was a big boost of confidence that he desperately needed.
McElroy has been remarkably consistent at the Masters, with four consecutive top-10 finishes, but he has yet to take his performance to the next level. He has had chances to win in the past, like when he blew a lead on Sunday back in 2011, but this time the pressure is not squarely on his shoulders. With the heralded return of Tiger Woods and a number of other young golfers looking to be in the spotlight, his nerves should be at bay. He has also practiced a lot at Augusta recently, with 54 holes played in the last week in Georgia.
Additionally, McElroy has history on his side this weekend, as it is his 10th Masters appearance. Both Ben Hogan and Sam Snead won their first Masters in their tenth appearance. Plus, Arnold Palmer was also 28 years old when he won his first of four. McElroy has the history, confidence, pedigree and skill to finally get his first green jacket.
Don’t let the hysteria of Tiger Woods’ return fool you, as Tiger is too far removed from real championship level golf to make it happen. Justin Rose has similar qualifications to McElroy, except he has less championship prospect, and the ghost of his playoff loss last year to Sergio Garcia may haunt him. Ultimately, Rory McElroy will finally get the proverbial monkey off his back and claim the career Grand Slam, and his first green jacket.
