Masters 2016: Nine predictions sure to come true at Augusta National
What will Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth do at Augusta? We think we know how it's all going to play out.
By
Kyle Porter
•
1 min read
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It's prediction time. I've been studying the 2016 Masters for months, and I'm pretty sure all nine of the following predictions will come to fruition (which guarantees that none of them actually will).
Here are nine predictions for Thursday through Sunday at the Masters.
1. Jordan Spieth will finish outside the top 25. Come at me. I laid out the majority of my reasons here.
2. Weather will be a factor. But probably not in the way you think. Wind is going to favor low ball hitters and dry out the greens. That helps the guy I have listed at No. 9.
3. There will not be an ace. They all got used up in the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. There have only been 24 in tournament history and haven't been any since Jamie Donaldson did it in 2013.
4. Rory McIlroy will play the par 5s in at least 12 under again. Last year, McIlroy did it in 14 under and lost. He gets there again this year and loses again.
5. Dustin Johnson will lead after at least one round. He's got a little bit of that look going on. The one that says "there are no par 5s and you can build a small southern town between my drive and the average drive out here." That's not going to translate into a win (see No. 2), but he's going to be competitive once again here.
6. We will get four top-10 players in the last two pairings Sunday. The upper crust of golf is too hot right now. I'm not totally sure who it's going to be, but I think we get four great players in the last two pairings of the week.
7. Bryson DeChambeau will not be the low amateur. This has the feel of a little overpreparation from DeChambeau. I'm thinking Romain Langasque or Cheng Jin clip him. I say DeChambeau misses the cut.
8. Justin Thomas will finish in the top 15. It’s clear Thomas believes he belongs in the Rickie Fowler-Jordan Spieth conversation as best young American. He’ll go out and prove it this week with one of the best first-time performances we’ve seen in recent memory.
9. Phil Mickelson will win. I'm on record now. Let's get this thing going.
