The 87th playing of the Masters features an interesting dynamic between the LIV players and the PGA players. The weather could cause issues. But it’s Augusta National, a gem of a course, it’s the Masters, it doesn’t get any better than this. So throw all of that out the window and let’s enjoy major championship golf.

The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler, who looks to be in prime form as he aims to defend his title. Tiger Woods will try to recapture his magic from 5 previous victories in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and a remarkable victory in 2019. His ankle is pretty sore, but he’s giving it a go. Can the great champion overcome the physical obstacles he faces at 47 years old and contend? Fred Couples said Tiger is bombing the ball. Not like Rory, but pretty darn well.

The two other members of the Big Three, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlory, look to put on their first green jackets on, on Sunday. Rory is trying to complete the career grand slam with his last major coming in 2014 at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion at Torry Pines, has been a dominant player this season. Those two guys will be tough outs for everyone else in the field.

The key holes are the backside of Augusta National on Sunday. Number 10 is a 495 yard par 4. Always a tough hole in which a par is a good score and birdie is outstanding. The 11th, to me, is the toughest hole on the course. It’s the start of Amen Corner. A 505 yard par 4, with a tough tee shot through a shoot, a challenging 2nd shot with water on the left and mounds on the right, which is a good miss. The green is undulating and difficult. No.12, the second hole in Amen Corner, is a 155 yard, par 3, and with windy conditions which are expected this week, can make or break your Green Jacket hopes on Sunday. No.13 has been lengthened to 545 yards from 510 and is a par 5. It’s the final hole of Amen Corner. This will make the second shot more of a 5 iron than an 7, 8 or 9 and really challenge the metal of the players on Sunday. No.14 is a 440 yard, par 4. Not as descriptive or famous as some of the other holes on the back, but with the pressure on, it would be a good place to snag a birdie. No.15 is a 530 yard par 5 with a significant opportunity to gain a shot or two on the field. Can be a problem, too, if you’re short and in Rae’s Creek, or long and you have an extremley challenging chip shot coming back. No.16 is an epic 170 yard par 3, that is a tournament changing hole. Tiger had the spectacular chip in back in 2005. Jack birdied it in 1986 in his historic victory at age 46. No.17 is a 440 yard par 4, the “Yessir!” hole in which Verne Lundquist exclaimed that when Jack birdied it in ‘86. And No.18 is terrific, a 465 yard par 4 that has created stunning history in the game of golf. Scheffler four putted it last year, but still won by 3 shots over Rory, who had a terrific hole out from the bunker for birdie. Collin Morikawa followed Rory with a hole out of his own from the trap.

Here are the odds.

Scottie S. 5/1

Rory, 15/2

Rahm, 9/1

Jordan Spieth, 15/1

Cameron Smith, 20/1

Collin Morikawa, 20/1

Max Homa, 20/1

Patrick Cantlay, 20/1

Xander Schauffele 22/1

Justin Thomas, 22/1

Tony Finau, 25/1

Jason Day, 25/1

Dustin Johnson, 28/1

Cameron Young, 28/1

Sam Burns, 28/1

Viktor Hovland, 28/1

Will Zalatoris, 30/1

Sungjae Im, 33/1

Brooks Koepka, 35/1

Hideki Matsuyama, 35/1

Corey Conners, 40/1

Tom Kim, 40/1

Matt Fitzpatrick, 45/1

Tommy Fleetwood, 50/1

Tyrrell Hatton, 55/1

Joaquin Niemann, 60/1

Shane Lowry, 65/1

Tiger, 65/1

Justin Rose, 75/1

Patrick Reed, 75/1

Min Woo Lee, 80/1

Louis Louis, 80/1

Bryson D. 85/1

Adam Scott, 100/1

Bubba Watson, 125/1

Sergio Garcia, 125/1

Keegan Bradley, 175/1

Gary Woodland, 200/1

Phil Mickelson, 200/1

So, what a field. Good to have all the players together, competing again. Hoping the PGA and LIV Tours can work something out where PGA and LIV players can compete together more often. At least they’ll do so in the Majors this year.

Weather, Not great, but could change.

Thursday, 85, Partly Cloudy, 19% chance of rain. Wind S 7 MPH.

Friday, 77, 70% chance of rain, Wind ESE 13.

Saturday, 52, 98% chance of rain. Wind NE 12 MPH.

Sunday, AM rain, clears up at noon. 70% in AM. Wind NE 13 MPH.

TV

Thursday-Friday, 2-6:30 PM CT, ESPN.

Saturday, 2-6 PM CT, CBS

Sunday, 1-6 PM CT, CBS

Winner

I’ve been trying to look at all the angles, but I can’t Not pick the 26 year old from Ridgewood, New Jersey by way of the University of Texas. He’s hotter than Texas Mexican Food in July as he’s won the Waste Management Open, going back to back in Phoenix, and also won the Players Championship as well three weeks ago. He made it to the WGC Match Play Semifinals in Austin, but surprisingly missed a four foot birdie putt that would have won the match for him over Sam Burns. Burns went on to win that match and win the Match Play. But I like this gunslinger from Texas. Give me,

Scottie Scheffler

Another interesting note

Nineteen year old Gordon Sargent from Mountain Brook is in the field. A lot of people are familiar with Gordon as he was a stellar Mountain Brook High School Player and is the No.1 ranked amateur golfer in the world right now by all the rankings. The sophomore from Vanderbilt won the NCAA Individual National championship in 2022 as a freshman at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona. He can crush it with Rory. What a future. He’s not my sleeper pick, but Gordon is stellar and can make the cut and maybe do better than that.

Sleeper

I’ll take the 24 year old from Perth Australia. His older sister, 26 year old Minjee, is a two time major winner on the LPGA Tour. And this young guy looks like he has all the tools to compete this week.

Min Woo Lee