It's finally here. The first Major championship of the year. 94 players have made their way down Magnolia Lane to prepare for the 81st edition of the Masters Tournament. But which of those will earn a place on your Fantasy team? Our stats expert has crunched the numbers and hand picked this trio for your consideration.
Pick of the favourites: Justin Rose
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Five top 15 finishes from his last six Masters starts, a worst finish of tied 39th from 11 previous visits to Augusta National, and a game built around solid ball-striking from tee to green that perfectly suits the storied Georgia venue – it is easy to see why we think Justin Rose might have a good week.
Two years ago Rose went very close to winning here when he finished in a tie for second after making an impressive 24 birdies or better during the course of the week, on the way to recording a total of 274, which unluckily for Justin was the joint best 72 hole score by a non-winner in Masters history.
The pacey greens of Augusta, combined with the contours, make getting up and down here harder than most places, however the 2013 US Open Champion ranks fourth in this year’s field when it comes to this vital category, boasting a successful scrambling percentage of 59.6 per cent. The nine-time European Tour winner is also very comfortable on the tee here in Georgia, having found 71.4 per cent of the fairways from his 44 career rounds.
Rose might not be in the richest vein of form in his successful career, but the Olympic Champion always seems to have a good week at the year’s first Major Championship. If the Englishman, a player who places great significance on planning for the Majors and trending in the right direction at the big events, can get himself in contention again come Sunday, he might be slipping on that famous Green Jacket.
Form horse: Jon Rahm
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Very rarely is so much expected of a Masters debutant as is expected of Jon Rahm this week – however that is what happens when you burst on to the global golfing scene as spectacularly as the Spaniard has managed to do over the last year. Nine months ago Jon Rahm was ranked outside the top 750 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but amazingly he comes into this week at 14th in the World Ranking. That unbelievable rise has come about largely thanks to his first professional win at the Farmers Insurance Open, a tied third finish at the WGC – Mexico Championship, and a runner-up finish at his last event, the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play.
The Spaniard’s game should be well-suited to Augusta as well, with Rahm returning the best combined European Tour and PGA Tour scrambling stats of any player in the field this week, at 75.5 per cent. He is also ranking highly in the putts per Green in Regulation field across both tours, at 1.756 – short game skills he showed off in Mexico where he went 59 holes without a three putt.
Twice this season Rahm has narrowly missed out on a maiden European Tour victory at the WGCs to World Number One Dustin Johnson. With the way both are playing currently many people are tipping the pair to be right amongst the leaders when things get serious on Sunday at Augusta.
Wildcard: Ross Fisher
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Fisher has somewhat flown under the radar coming into this week, although his form and stats at Augusta suggest that should not really be the case.
Like Rahm, Fisher is coming into the week on the back of two strong showings at his last two events, the WGC – Mexico Championship and the WGC – Dell Technologies Match Play, where he placed tied third and fifth respectively. Those fine showings got Fisher into the top 50 in the OWGR, and subsequently earned the former Ryder Cup player a spot at the 2017 Masters.
The Englishman, who will make the memorable trip up Magnolia Lane for the fifth time, seems comfortable on the Augusta fairways and greens. He ranks seventh in Fairways Hit out of those teeing it up this week, and has found 69.4 per cent of the Greens in Regulation from his 14 rounds here – a return which has him in illustrious company in that category alongside Spieth. Indeed, only European compatriot Søren Kjeldsen has a better GIR percentage than the five time European Tour winner in this year’s field.
Three top 50 finishes from four starts here in Georgia, with a best result of tied 15th back in 2011, show Fisher feels comfortable in these famous surroundings. However, with the Englishman riding high at third in the Race to Dubai rankings Presented by Rolex, he will be keen to kick on and better that performance from six years ago, with his game seemingly in good stead to do just that.
Those are our picks, now it’s time to make yours. Whether you are playing theFantasy Race to Dubaior our newDaily Fantasy Game, be sure to make your picks before the event begins on Thursday. Good luck!
