Masters Daily Fantasy Golf Preview
It’s here again – The Masters! Just writing the name of the tournament sends a shiver through me and it would be fair to say that every golf fan feels likes a child at Christmas this week. The Masters has a special place in golf – it being the only Major Championship that is played on the same course every year, so you feel that you know the course inside out. The number of iconic moments the tournament has bought are too many to write, but surely no-one could ever forget the surge of Jack Nicklaus on the back nine, the amazing chip of Larry Mize, Tiger spread-eagling the field for his first win and Mickelson’s three wins. The present incumbent of the Green jacket is Bubba Watson, who is striving for his third win in four years, while Rory McIlroy is looking to complete the career grand slam. However, Jordan Spieth might have something to say come Sunday – and there is a player called Tiger who is also in the field. Whatever happens – it’s going to be magic!
$20 direct entry. Satellites start at $0.25
Masters Picks and Sleepers
Bubba Watson – How can you ignore the player that has a stranglehold on the tournament right now? With two wins in the last three years Watson has moved to the top table of golf and the world number three will expect another week where he challenges. His preparation couldn’t have been better, his worst finish this year being 14th, with two top five finishes. Somebody is going to have to wrestle that green jacket off his back.
Jordan Spieth – Is there a better player in world golf right now than Jordan Spieth? He is on an amazing run of form – his last three events have seen a playoff win, a second place and just last week a playoff defeat. This has seen him rise to number four in the world and there is no way he’ll be as low as number four in the world for long – Rory has a huge rival and this rivalry will be amazing to watch. Spieth showed last year that he can handle the pressure of the Masters, finishing joint 2nd – it would be no surprise at all to see him go one better this year.
Dustin Johnson – After his 6 month ‘rest’ from the game, Dustin Johnson couldn’t have asked for a more perfect return. He missed the cut at his first event, but since then he has finished in the top six of all but one events (he missed the cut in the weather affected Honda Classic), claiming the WGC Cadillac Championships, which was the biggest event of the year so far. There are many players vying for the ‘Best player to never win a major’ crown and Johnson is certainly one – but come the end of the week, he might not have to be considered any more.
J. B. HolmesRight now, if you had to pick a player who you wanted to go out and shoot a round in the low 60’s, Holmes would be your man. When he is on, he is really on and it would be fair to say that this is the case right now – Holmes shooting a 64 to win from 6 shots back just last week at the Houston Open. This was no flash in the pan as he has already finished runner up twice this year. For a form pick, Holmes cannot be ignored.
Louis Oosthuizen – This former Open champion is having a mixed time right now on the golf course. Four events on the PGA tour this year have seen him finish in the top ten twice but have also seen two missed cuts. In 2012 Oosthuizen came close to winning the Masters, missing out to Bubba Watson in a playoff, so he knows how to handle the intricacies of Augusta. Yes, this pick is something of a gamble, as it could really go either way, but if he plays well, it could be extremely good.
Jim Furyk – If you want an absolutely solid no risk pick this week Jim Furyk might be your man. The last time Jim Furyk missed a cut was at the Open Championship in 2013, an amazing run which has seen him move from 32nd in the world back into the top ten. Three top 15 finishes in five events see a player whose game is in good shape without quite contending. The last three years have seen Furyk finish 11th, 25th and 14th at Augusta, so there’s no risk on this front either.
Russell Henley (sleeper) – With his 4th place finish last week at the Shell Houston Open Russell Henley has found form at exactly the right time. This year has seen Henley make every cut, but struggle to be in contention, but the run in Houston is exactly what he needed. He played last year at the Masters and finished a creditable 31st and could be a good pick this week for a relatively low salary.
Ernie Els (sleeper) – It seems strange to describe this giant of world golf as a sleeper, but it would be fair to say that a win this week would be highly unexpected. There are a few reasons for this pick. Firstly Ernie Els, despite never winning, has a great record at Augusta – runner up twice and six top ten finishes. He missed the cut last year, after coming in on a bad run but in 2013 finished 13th. After a poor start to the year on the PGA tour, he has found some form in his last two events with a made cut and a 13th place finish at Bay Hill in a high quality field. Els could surprise this week.
There are three notable omissions from my list this week. The first is world number one Rory McIlroy who attempts to make history this week. However when making my picks I look for value in the salary and I don’t think McIlroy is playing well enough right now to warrant the high salary. The second player is Henrik Stenson. This is a player who has been very high in my Masters thoughts for weeks, but just last week pulled out of the Houston Open through illness – not making for an ideal preparation at all. The final player is the one who might perhaps generate the most headlines – Tiger Woods. I wouldn’t advise anyone picking Tiger right now – his form simply doesn’t warrant it. However, this is Tiger Woods, so you never know what he might do.
More Great Content