Golf is such an unpredictable sport that not even half of the big games played since the world ranking was established back in 1986 have been won by a player who was in the world top 10 that week. Of the 147 Majors held, this circumstance occurred only in 70, aggravated if one studies the fact that only Rory McIlroy (PGA 2014), Dustin Johnson (Masters 2020) and Scottie Schefller (Masters 2022) were champions displaying the world number 1, in addition to Tiger Woods, whose success is written in a separate volume.
Augusta Masters, schedule
With this data, it is part of the fantasy to establish which golfers are the favorites for the 2023 edition, although left to elucidate, the one who could have the most ballots is Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion and current world number 1, against whom he runs that only Woods (2001 and 2002), Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965 and 1966) have managed to defend the title.
The Texan has completed a tremendous month and a half since he retained the crown in Phoenix. He won The Players, was fourth in the Arnold Palmer and was close to getting into the World Cup match play final. He fell in the semifinals on the extra hole.
By ranking, the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy would appear in second place of those chosen. He is the big one that is missing. Last year he was second and of the last nine editions he finished seven in the top 10, although he was never as close as in 2011, when he was the leader with 9 holes to go, the tee shot of the 10th hole went to some chalets that He had never shown a CBS broadcast, hit a triple bogey, a double bogey on the 11th hole and ended up signing 43 shots per nine seconds for a total of 80.
In the next stay is Jon Rahm, the regular golfer in the Masters -five top 10 in seven participations-, willing to continue the Seve-Olazábal-Sergio chain. A month ago everyone would have identified him as the undisputed favourite, but March, between the indisposition in the TPC, and the minor benefits in the World Match Play and the Arnold Palmer have returned him to that group of highlights with the two mentioned.
From here, the deck already opens to any other option. The Masters has recently been won by Patrick Reed from the twenty-fourth position in the world ranking or Hideki Matsuyama from the 25th. The thermometer is now, at least questionable, since it is conditioned by the discontinuation of the LIV players.
People like Cameron Smith, Joaquín Niemann or Brooks Koepka seem prepared to put both arms in their jackets.
