Sign up every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Bryson DeChambeau’s chances of claiming a green jacket, Tiger Woods’ health and more.
Bryson DeChambeau beat Jon Rahm in a playoff for it win LIV Golf South Africa and earned his second consecutive win in LIV in what was the final league upgrade before the first big game of the year. With the way DeChambeau has played the last two weeks, has he taken away the title as the Masters favorite? Or does this still belong to Scottie or Rory?
Zephyr Melton, Associate Game Improvement Editor (@zephyrmelton): Considering Scottie’s early season slump and Rory’s uncertain health, I think it’s fair to say Bryson is the early favorite at Augusta. However, if he doesn’t control his iron distances well (which has plagued him in recent years at the Masters), I fear his chances of claiming a green jacket are slim.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It should still be Scottie; his death is greatly exaggerated. But the fact that DeChambeau is in the middle of this conversation now is significant — and entertaining. Add in a few more rising stars of top-level golf (Xander, Rahm, Fitz) and there should be plenty to talk about pre-Augusta.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Vegas won’t call anyone but Scottie the favorite, and as Dylan puts it, Scheffler’s “downfall” has consisted of three top-25 finishes followed by two top-fives and a win. Scheffler is also playing this week in Texas before heading to Augusta, so he has one more chance to get some things right. Bryson playing like this adds the biggest juices to every stage. Few players give energy to a place like that. I hope he plays well at Augusta.
LIV’s two biggest stars – DeChambeau and Rahm – squared off in the final round in South Africa. It’s rare, in any tournament, that the biggest names are the ones left standing. Is this a meaningful player rivalry? And is that important to LIV or not?
Melts: It’s very important to LIV, and with smaller fields and a set schedule, they have a setup to make sure the story plays out on a more frequent basis. Unfortunately for the league, recent defections have thinned out the star pool, so the chances of the stars battling it out on the field are slimmer than in recent years.
Dethier: It’s funny, I went into Bay Hill/Double Players wondering if we were going to have a Scottie-Rory showdown. That was a lot NO case, and almost never happened. So LIV must be thrilled that his two top dogs are messing around. Also, the top two dogs should be excited as they continue to build contract leverage…
Berhow: It’s important for LIV and it’s important for every league. I don’t think golf fans appreciate enough when these things happen on the majors or not. Think how many times we’ve seen Tiger and Phil play together in the last couple of major Sundays (once!) or any pair of marquee players. Bryson and Rory in the Masters final pairing last year was one of the tastiest major final pairings we’ve had in years. The more we see of him, the more he continues to build these rivalries and stories.
A week after losing the Players Championship on the 72nd hole at TPC Sawgrass, Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back to win the Valspar on Sunday. While he has won 10 times on the DP World Tour, this was only his third PGA Tour title. Have Fitzpatrick’s last two weeks proven he’s ready to go with the heater this summer? Or just a few good weeks?
Melts: As the cliché goes, you want to get hot at the right time – and Fitz looks like he’s peaking just when you want him to. It will be difficult to maintain this form throughout the summer, but in terms of maximizing his chances for the Masters, he has put himself in a great place.
Dethier: The most encouraging thing about Fitzpatrick’s growth is his stellar approach game – which travels everywhere. I would expect him to be a factor in many majors.
Berhow: Now he needs the big hit. Sure, he won the US Open at Brookline in 2022, but he still only has six top 10s in 42 starts. But he was T4 and T8, respectively, at The Open and PGA last year, so maybe it’s coming. He will be a popular sleeper choice during Masters week.
Last month at the Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods offered a promising Masters update. But on Tuesday during TGL Woods said he’s “working on it,” adding, “the body doesn’t heal like it did when I was 24. It doesn’t come back completely. So I have good days when I can do almost anything, and other days where it’s hard to move.” Has that changed your opinion on whether Woods will play the Masters?
Melts: Not at all. I’m just waiting for his WD to become official so we can put this nonsense to bed.
Dethier: Meh, I’ll still bet he plays. But clearly getting to that point is anything but easy. As long as we approach his start with the appropriate lack of expectations (unlikely, given that it’s Tiger at Augusta), we should be fine. It’s all bonus.
Berhow: I wish I was as optimistic as Dylan. I’m putting his fielding percentage at around 40 percent, though he probably won’t know until the week how things change so quickly with his body.
Augusta National published it Taste of the Masters reception sets last week, where you can bring parts of the Masters – pimento, cookies or azalea cocktails, etc. – right in your living room. But what if you only get one item to choose from? What are you sending to your home?
Melts: I really like chicken salad sandwiches. But Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwiches would also be a solid choice.
Dethier: I have noticed some backlash against Masters food in recent years – complain that it is not that good. I don’t know. I don’t care. It’s like eating pasta while walking in Rome. Part of the taste is the place. Pencil me in for 50 chicken salad / pulled pork sandwiches and 50 more chocolate chip cookies. I will attack for self-control starting April 13th.
Berhow: Chocolate chip cookies are a problem. I love egg salad, pimento, and ice cream, but I could live without it. The cookies? They mean a lot to me.
