Lee Westwood came very close 12 months ago, only to be eclipsed by some Phil Mickelson magic. But Westwood’s not the only homegrown player with healthy Augusta credentials. And with five players in the world’s top 10, the Great Britain & Northern Ireland challenge looks stronger than ever.
Paul Casey (England)
Age: 33
Masters played: 6
Best finish: 6th in 2004 (debut)
Last year: missed cut (75, 78)
Impressive on his Masters debut, bouncing back from opening 75 to card 69 and then 68. Out in penultimate group on Sunday, but slipped back with 74 to end sixth. Three other top 20s since then but missed cut last year despite winning Houston Open the week before. Won Volvo Golf Champions event on European Tour in January and made cut in all four PGA Tour starts this year.
“Says Augusta is his favourite course and has got the ideal game for it – a power player, hits the ball high and a hot putter when he gets the touch going and confidence is high. The combination of that and enjoying the course is a huge fillip.” – Ken Brown
Luke Donald (England)
Age: 33
Masters played: 6
Best finish: tied 3rd in 2005, 10th in 2007
Last year: missed cut (74, 75)
Comes in on a real high after WGC Matchplay win in February and a rise to third in the world. Significant Augusta form, finishing third on his debut in 2005, the best performance by a European since Jose Maria Olazabal won in 1999. In contention again in 2007, an eagle on the eighth in the final round lifted him to second before a triple bogey on the ninth derailed his challenge. Madrid Masters win last year was first since 2006.
“Form in the last six to eight months has been as good as anyone in the world – he just has a wonderfully accurate all-round game. Short game is terrific, second to none, which is key at Augusta. In the past you got the feeling he was a bit like Sandy Lyle – a bit take it or leave it when it came to winning. But his record in matchplay – in the Ryder Cup and earlier this year – is superb. So he’s a sneaky, quiet terrier and I’m sure if he doesn’t win a major this year he will come very close.” – Ken Brown
Ross Fisher (England)
Age: 30
Masters played: 2
Best finish: tied 30th in 2009
Last year: missed cut (77, 76)
Raced into a two-shot lead with four birdies in first eight holes on Masters debut in 2009. Ended four behind first-round leader Chad Campbell before slipping back. Modest form on tour this season with 10th in Dubai the highlight. Won Irish Open last August for fourth career title after stunning 2009 including victory at World Matchplay, second in PGA Championship and fifth at US Open.
“Third start at Augusta and it takes a few goes to get an idea of what is going on. He hits the ball long and high and strikes it soundly, but the key is whether he can find his touch on the greens. He just needs to improve his putting a fraction. I get the feeling he is seeking a bit of inspiration and confidence in his game to move to the next level.” – Ken Brown
Martin Laird (Scotland)
Age: 28
Masters played: 0
The US-based Glaswegian served notice he is becoming a force in the game with victory in Arnold Palmer’s event at Bay Hill two weeks ago for a second PGA Tour title, taking him to career-high 21st in world. He also lost in two play-offs in 2010, both times after having a putt to win on the 72nd hole.
“Scotland’s hidden gem. People have been saying Scottish golf is in the doldrums, but he’s playing wonderfully and has gone relatively unnoticed until now. Had a brilliant end to last season and found some confidence, and a little key which helped him go from a middle-of-the-road putter to a very good one.
“Goes into his first Masters with a huge amount of confidence but has got to learn the course. That first week, with all the distractions of the par-three event, the practice rounds and the hype, it’s hard to get it all together.” – Ken Brown
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
Age: 53
Masters played: 29
Best finish: Winner, 1988
Last year: missed cut (69, 86)
Fairway bunker shot on the 18th remains an iconic Masters image as Lyle sparked a run of four straight British winners at Augusta. The former world number one leads the European Seniors Tour after recently clinching his first senior victory in China. Rolled back the years with impressive 20th place at Augusta in 2009 after rounds of 72, 70, 73 and 71.
“We’ve seen it a number of times recently with the likes of Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer that the confidence gained from winning and playing well on the senior tour can lift your game. We all know Sandy’s got a lot of talent but when you are past 50 you are really just hoping to make the cut.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got through to the weekend, which for a 53-year-old is a darn good effort.” – Ken Brown
Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)
Age: 31
Masters played: 3
Best finish: tied 17th in 2009
Last year: missed cut (75, 74)
Modest Masters form but worked on weaknesses, notably to short game, after missing second cut last year and went on to win Wales Open and then maiden major title at the US Open at Pebble Beach. Clinched winning point against US in Ryder Cup in October and beat Tiger Woods in play-off to win the Chevron World Challenge in December. Form tailed off of late and admits the opening-round 80 at Bay Hill recently was a “wake-up call”. But on his day the world number four is still a force to be reckoned with.
“Plenty of self-confidence, especially having won the US Open. The next thing he must be thinking is, ‘can I win another major?’ He’s certainly got the game for it but there’s nothing in his Augusta form that makes you think ‘this chap is in love with the place’ – although they all are, of course.
“Likes to hit the ball with a draw – right to left – which is always advantageous at Augusta because about 11 of the tee shots favour a draw to a fade. Also a glorious putter at times – a bit like Paul Casey in that when his eye is in he can hole from everywhere. He just sees the ball going in, and you think ‘this is ridiculous’. The question is, will the streak be on this week?” – Ken Brown
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
Age: 21
Masters played: 2
Best finish: tied 20th in 2009
Last year: missed cut (74, 77)
Suggestions on his debut that Augusta would suit but missed cut last year was a reality check. Regrouped to win maiden PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in May and has shown solid form this season with five top 10s. Tied third in the last two majors of 2010.
“He’s got it, no question. He’s got what it takes to win anything, any time, anywhere.
“Has had some experience of Augusta now and is getting to know how to play it well. Had a sit down at the end of last season with his caddie and manager to analyse his game and work out how to win a bit more.
“The upshot was he could improve his strategy – sometimes he is over-attacking and often on the par fives. So at Augusta he will sink or swim on his strategy – knowing when to have a go at greens, when to go at flags, when not to. If he gets it right and holes a few putts, particularly from inside six feet, he can be a world beater” – Ken Brown
Ian Poulter (England)
Age: 35
Masters played: 6
Best finish: tied 10th in 2010
Joint leader with Lee Westwood after two rounds last year but finished 74, 73 to slip back. Also came 13th in 2007. Landed biggest career win to date in lifting WGC Match Play title last year but solid if unremarkable form since to slide out of top 10 in rankings.
“Loves everything about Augusta – the set-up, the course, the atmosphere, the glamour of it all. He’s totally at home and at peace with coming to the Masters and it is one of the magic weeks for him.
“His greatest attribute is that he is a glorious touch putter, who rolls the ball well. But over the last couple of months he’s changed putter and has been saying he can’t find his touch.
“His game is all-round steady – he doesn’t hit it particularly far but is pretty accurate and we’ve seen the likes of Bernhard Langer, Gary Player and Mike Weir, who are not power players, do well. Will not want the course playing wet as it might be a bit long for him. But never lacks self-belief.”- Ken Brown
Justin Rose (England)
Age: 30
Masters played: 5
Best finish: 5th in 2007
Last year: Not qualified
Something of an Augusta specialist having held at least a share of the lead on each of the four days. Led after the first two rounds in 2004 after carding 67, 71 but shot 81 on the third day. Tied for lead after first-round 69 in 2007 but fell back with two 75s before scrapping back to within one on the 17th tee in the final round. But drive ricocheted off a branch and had to play second from 15th fairway en route to a double bogey to finish three behind winner Zach Johnson. Also tied for lead with eventual winner Trevor Immelman after round one in 2008 but second-round 78 spelled the end of his challenge.
Failed to qualify last year but went on to win twice in three weeks on the PGA Tour. In good form this season, leading going into final round of Transitions Championship before finishing fifth and sharing third in Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“Very sound all season and all departments in good shape. Two wins last year will have done wonders, knowing he can mix it with the best. Next stage is to get into contention in the last two or three groups on a Sunday a bit more often.” – Ken Brown
Lee Westwood (England)
Age: 37
Masters played: 11
Best finish: 2nd in 2010, tied 6th in 1999
Close but no cigar for Westwood last year. The Englishman led following the second and third rounds and was still in front after eight holes on Sunday before Phil Mickelson birdied four of the last seven holes, including a miracle shot from behind a tree on the 13th, to storm to a third title. Westwood maintained his form to finish second at the Open in July and took over from Tiger Woods as world number one in October before he was succeeded at the top by Martin Kaymer in February. Modest form this season though.
“Likes Augusta and knows he can do it. Will look back and say he missed a couple of chances last year, a 15ft putt here, a chip there. But one magical shot from Mickelson, when he took a gamble, turned the tournament. The crowds were roaring for him and his confidence soared. Sometimes you have to say ‘well done, you played better than me’ but Westwood can take lot of satisfaction from it.
“Long game has been absolutely stunning for the last two years and some of his wins have been five-star cruise stuff, but his swing is not quite in the groove and as consistently sound as it was last year. I’m not quite sure why, but there may have been a few diversions in becoming world number one that have taken him away from maximum concentration.
“His form in recent years has been developed through the extra physical fitness he has incorporated into his routine. At places like Augusta you use a tremendous amount of mental and physical energy and it’s easy to run out of puff and let the odd poor shot creep in. But Westwood’s well equipped to run through the tape and the opposition know that this is a bloke who knows how to win and is not going to buckle under pressure.” – Ken Brown
Ian Woosnam (Wal)
Age: 53
Masters played: 23
Best finish: Winner, 1991
Last year: missed cut (81, 83)
The Welshman went into the 1991 Masters as the newly crowned world number one and immediately clinched his sole major title in impressive fashion, hitting the front after round three. His best finish in recent times was 44th in 2008 but age and Augusta’s new length have caught up with him. Has won three times on the European Seniors Tour, most recently in 2009, and is seventh in the 2011 rankings.
“Woosie has always said he’ll come back here as long as he can, whether it’s as a player or not. He’ll see his mates, go to the Champions Dinner, play the par three and enjoy the atmosphere. But he’ll still be very competitive and will be trying his guts out to see if he can score under 75 and make the cut. But with any wind or moisture the course is a monster and the 50-year-olds might not have the armoury.” – Ken Brown
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Yearning for a UK winner