The Masters 2022 – a preview with Bernard Gallacher
It feels as though it comes earlier every year, but it’s
that time again, golf fans.
We’re, of course, referring to the first Major tournament of
the yearly golfing calendar, and without doubt one of the most prestigious,
too.
The Masters 2022 kicks off on Thursday 7 April, at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, and runs until Sunday 10 April.
Although the Masters is still traditionally considered an ‘invitational
event’, there are certain additional qualifying criteria nowadays to bolster
the field to around eighty golfers. However, this is still the smallest field
of all the Majors by a long way.
The Masters is the only Major to take place at the same venue every year, with the course consistently kept in pristine condition with manicured fairways and perfect greens. There’s also been the recent addition of a ‘semi rough’, giving the already generously wide fairways some further definition.
The Masters is always eagerly anticipated. We caught up with eight-times Ryder Cup player, three-times Ryder Cup captain, and Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher to chat all things Masters 2022, from what we can expect to who he’s tipping for success at this year’s tournament.
Here’s what he had to say…
The Masters 2022: what can we expect this year?
This year, the real competition for that coveted Green Jacket will be on the back nine of the last round, in particular, where water comes into play at the three holes making up Amen Corner (11th, 12th, and 13th holes).
Water also comes into play at the long par five 15th and par three 16th. However, there are no water hazards on the front
nine, so essentially, the course gets exponentially tougher as the round
proceeds—tough on the players but great for us in the TV audience!
Ultimately, the player that holds their nerve on the back nine and has an exceptional week on the greens will win.
Bernard’s top picks for the Masters 2022
Rory McIlroy needs to win the Masters to complete his Grand Slam and join only the five other golfers in the history of the game to have won all four Majors;
Jack NicklausGary PlayerGene SarazenBen HoganTiger Woods
Will we see Rory’s name added to this list in 2022?
So far, his best opportunity came in 2011, when he led going
into the back nine but took a calamitous 10 at the 10th hole and
fell away with a final round of 80, allowing Charles Schwartzel to go on and
clinch victory.
While golf fans will know that you can never write Rory off,
he needs to hit better iron shots than he has been recently and have four consistently
good days on the greens if he’s to have any chance of winning.
Rory’s main strength is his superb driving, but there’s not such a premium on the tee shot around Augusta thanks to its wide fairways, so he’ll have to find other ways to win this time—which, of course, he’s more than capable of. Personally, I hope he wins and joins the list of greats above.
Justin Thomas
American golfer Justin Thomas has a superb all-round game.
He’s consistently long and straight off the tee and can go hot with the putter.
Although just 28-years-old, Thomas first became a Major
winner when he won the USPGA in 2017 and (at the time of writing) has 14 wins
under his belt on the PGA Tour.
His best Masters finish was 4th in 2020, and he’s another strong contender to win this year, for sure.
Scottie Scheffler
Newly crowned world number one after winning the recent WGC
Match Play in Austin, Texas, Scottie Scheffler has to be a contender this year.
The 25-year-old American also played on the winning US Ryder Cup side in 2021, recording an impressive victory in his Sunday singles match against the then world number one Jon Rahm.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson won the 2020 Masters, adding to his US Open win back
in 2016.
Popular with the crowds because of his laid back attitude
and big hitting, nobody can deny his strong credentials. But despite his 24 PGA
Tour wins and nine wins on the European Tour, he goes into this year’s Masters
on the back of poor form by his standards, slipping from 3rd to 9th in the World Golf Rankings at the end of last year.
However, he likes the course, and it suits him, too, so you can’t just write him off.
Bryson DeChambeau
It’s been a stop-start season so far for the American because
of a hand injury—which, according to him, is not related to his ‘speed training’—I’m
not so sure!
The bottom line is that the injury means he’s currently not competing
or practising, which is not ideal preparation for the season’s first Major.
His big hitting and superb touch on and around the greens makes him one of the most exciting players in the world to watch, and I think I speak for everyone in golf when I say I hope he’s back to full health sooner rather than later.
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith won The Players at Sawgrass in March and also
won The Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January, with a PGA Tour
record of 34 under par!
The 28-year-old Aussie is a good driver of the ball with a
winning temperament who putts superbly and currently lies 3rd on the
PGA Tour Putting Stats.
He tied second at the 2020 Masters, and to say he’s in a rich vein of form would be a huge understatement. It’ll come as no surprise to anyone, myself included if he wins at Augusta.
Collin Morrikawa
The Open Champion and USPGA 2020 winner, Collin Morikawa, is
by nature the very definition of a ‘big-time player’ who’ll be expecting to do
well at Augusta and add to his Majors.
His best finish so far this season is a tied second place at the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles in February.
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka is also what I’d call a big occasion player,
mainly because he keeps his best golf for the Majors.
He’s a four-time Major winner and also has a good record in
the two other Majors he’s still yet to win—The Masters and The Open. A superb
driver of the ball and good with the irons, too, he knows the course at Augusta
well, having finished second behind Tiger Woods in 2019.
I expect him to be another strong contender for this year’s Green Jacket.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland has enjoyed a meteoric rise in golf since
turning professional in 2019 and currently sits third in the world rankings.
At just 24-years-old, the Norwegian golfer is destined for
big things in the game, and it’s only a matter of time before he wins a Major.
He’s won three times on the PGA Tour and a couple of times on the European Tour,
too, but is yet to have a top ten finish in a Major.
I’d say there’s a good chance that will change soon, though.
Jon Rahm
How could we not mention former world number one Jon Rahm as
a serious contender for the Masters title?
He’s had good finishes already this year, both in Hawaii and
at The Farmers at Torre Pines, which means he’s on good form heading into this
tournament.
He tied 4th at Augusta in 2018 with his strong game and excellent positive putting, so it’ll be no surprise to me if he wins it this year.
Hideki Matsuyama
The defending Masters champion and the first Japanese player
to win a Major, Hideki Matsuyama is another firm favourite.
His historic win last year is especially memorable because
of his caddy’s long and respectful bow on the last green, which endeared them
both to the millions of fans worldwide watching on television—myself included.
Hideki has a good record in Majors and, in some ways, saves his best golf for the big occasions, but being the defending champion brings a sense of increased pressure in itself.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay is another serious contender.
He’s last year’s Player of the Year and won the year-ending Tour Championship in Atalanta along with its mouth-watering $15m bonus.
Masters 2022: an outside chance?
Paul Casey
Casey has been a consistently good player for several years now. He has a good record in the Majors despite not winning and is certainly not over the hill at 44-years-old.
Tyrell Hatton
A feisty temperament goes a long way in this sport, and Tyrell Hatton has just that. He’s the number one putter on the PGA Tour and a proven tournament winner—don’t rule him out.
Justin Rose
Justin Rose is coming to terms with playing on the PGA Tour
while now residing in the UK. Unfortunately for him, last season was seriously
hampered by injury, but he’s back to full fitness now.
He’s a proven Major winner and also has a good Masters record, tying second in 2015 and 2017.
Many thanks to Bernard for giving us the full Masters lowdown!
Looking forward to this year’s tournament? Who are you
tipping for success? Do you agree with Bernard?
Get in touch and let us know.
Specialist golf insurance from Golf Care
If the upcoming Masters is getting you in the mood to head
back out on the golf course, you should also make sure you have insurance in
place.
At Golf Care, our golf insurance includes Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m. and much more. What’s more, it’s also underpinned by our very own ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which promises great cover and exceptional service at an affordable price.
Click on the banner below to learn more about our cover and
get an instant online quote today.
