Rankings

Power Rankings: 2020 Masters

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November 10, 2020

15. Adam Scott

Adam Scott plays a shot during a practice round prior to the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 16, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The 2013 Masters champion in a thrilling playoff against major stalwart Angel Cabrera, has been in the field for every major championship since the 2001 Open Championship, a span of 76 events, which ranks as the longest on Tour now that Sergio Garcia (84 consecutive starts) was forced to withdraw after catching COVID-19.

To put into perspective how long ago that was, consider that the 2001 Open Champion was David Duval… yeah, it was not recent. Still armed with one of the smoothest swings in the game, Scott is still a week-in, week-out threat, winning as recently as the Genesis Invitational in February.

The Aussie has not been his best version since the Tour restart, but his familiarity with this course, plus his recent major form (top 8 finishes in two 2019 majors), means he should not be forgotten this week. He had three rounds in the 60s in Houston last week, posting a T32 in his first week back since testing positive for the virus himself.

World Rank: 15th
Odds to Win: 30-1
Odds Top 5: 6-1
Odds Top 10: 3-1
Last Six: 32, 38, 25, 58, 22, MC

14. Matthew Wolff

Yeah, we know, first timers do not win at Augusta. The last man to do that was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, and before that it was Gene Sarazen who won in the second ever Masters in 1935.

Why should Matthew Wolff be any different? Maybe because he IS different. Before playing the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park, the 21-year-old had never played in a major. He was part of a late five-way tie for the lead before settling for a still-tremendous T4.

At the U.S. Open, he held the 54-hole lead before Bryson DeChambeau blew away the Sunday field, pushing Wolff the solo runner-up slot. A man who won his first title (2019 3M Open) in just his third career professional start, Wolff is a man who does not like to wait for success.

Some would argue that Augusta is a different animal, but if anyone here this week is going to break the rookie trend, it’s probably him.

World Rank: 14th
Odds to Win: 45-1
Odds Top 5: 8-1
Odds Top 10: 4-1
Last Six: 50, 73, 2, 2, 16, 44

13. Bubba Watson

Course history and recent results are matching up for the 42-year-old to make a run at his third green jacket. Bubba Watson has gone T5, T12 in his last two Masters starts, respectively, and for his career has been an ultimate “horse for the course” type, who has certain courses he enjoys and has special familiarity with.

Augusta is one of those courses. In addition, the world No. 44 is rounding back into form, with top 10s in his last two Tour starts. He led the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green at The CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek, and fifth in the same stat at the ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood.

The former Georgia Bulldog appears to be out of what was something of a two year funk after a three-win 2018 season.

World Rank: 44th
Odds to Win: 33-1
Odds Top 5: 6-1
Odds Top 10: 3-1
Last Six: 4, 7, 31, 16, 18, 71

12. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods 2020 U.S. Open Practice at Winged Foot — Tiger Woods talks with caddie Joe LaCava during a practice round prior to the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 16, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

It feels like ages ago now, but when The Masters was last held, in April of 2019, the sports legend turned back the clock by pulling off an unbelievable two-stroke win. His fifth Masters and 15 major championship title snapped a shocking 11-year majorless streak. He did not have quite the power and presence of Tiger Woods of old, but he showed an incredible mastery (no pun intended) of the course. He proved that day that he can think his way around a course better than anyone.

Since he became “back” again, he has become woefully unpredictable. We’re just 11 months removed from Tiger carrying the U.S. Presidents Cup team on his back but since a T9 at Torrey Pines in January, Tiger has made just seven starts, with nothing better than a T37, and he was completely irrelevant in both majors (T37 at the PGA Championship, missed cut at the U.S. Open).

Tiger’s putting, in particular, has been an absolute disaster. We said this about Tiger going into the last two majors, and we’re going to say it again: we could see him winning this week just as easily as we could see a T40. You never know about Tiger healthwise these days.

World Rank: 44th
Odds to Win: 45-1
Odds Top 5: 8-1
Odds Top 10: 4-1
Last Six: 72, MC, 51, 58, 37, 40

11. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa Wins 2020 PGA Championship — Collin Morikawa smiles in celebration after making his final putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 2020 PGA

The most prominent of this year’s Masters first-timers, Collin Morikawa claimed victory at the PGA Championship in August, hitting a number of clutch shots down the stretch in just his second career major start.

In just 34 professional starts, the 23-year-old has three victories, and very nearly broke a made cut streak held by Tiger Woods. Since the COVID layoff, Morikawa has two wins and a runner-up, but has stalled a bit in the new wraparound season (two missed cuts, a T50 and a T12).

Augusta is a second-shot course, which fits him excellently, but players very rarely contend in their first shot at this major. Morikawa, however, is not your typical debutant. He has spent the last two years doing things he was supposed to be too young and inexperienced to do.

World Rank: 4th
Odds to Win: 35-1
Odds Top 5: 6-1
Odds Top 10: 3-1
Last Six: 50, 12, MC, MC, 7, 20

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