Masters 2023 tips and considerations
Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the most famous and revered golf courses in the world. It has hosted the prestigious Masters Tournament annually since 1934, and is the home of the Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most exclusive and coveted golf memberships in the world.
Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones in 1933, with a re-design in 2008, Augusta National has a par of 72 and a length of 7,545 yards. It is a Mid-Score, Classical type of course, with five holes featuring water hazards in play. The fairways are Ryegrass and the greens are Bentgrass.
Augusta National is known for its unique and challenging nuances, with factors such as uneven fairway lies, swirling winds, and crazily fast and undulating Bentgrass greens. It is a course where certain types of players thrive, while others struggle. Those who have a patient outlook and experience on the course are more likely to succeed.
Water hazards come into play much more on the back nine, with three key holes around Amen Corner, plus the critical par-5 15th and the par-3 16th both offering scoring opportunities. The course underwent significant changes in 2022 to two crucial holes on the back nine by lengthening and re-modeling them, and replacing the first cut with more fairway short grass. The changes were made in response to the dominant performance of big hitters and the charge for ever increased distance off the tee led by Bryson Dechambeau.
The course will undergo more changes in 2023, particularly on the par-5 13th, Azalea, where trees have been removed and a new tee box installed, adding 35 yards to the hole. This change will add an extra layer of challenge for players, and will require strategic thinking to navigate successfully.
Augusta National is definitely a game of two halves. Attack all of the four par-5s and a number of shorter par-4s to score well, and have course experience and a patient outlook to deal with the huge and contoured Bentgrass putting surfaces, and the infamous run-off areas that surround all green complexes.
The Masters Tournament, held annually at Augusta National, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, and is known for its storied history and dramatic finishes. The tournament attracts the best golfers in the world, all vying for the coveted green jacket awarded to the winner.
As we look forward to the 2023 Masters Tournament, the question on everyone’s mind is who will emerge as the champion? Will it be a seasoned veteran with years of experience playing at Augusta National, or a young up-and-comer with a fresh approach to the course? The changes made to the course will add an extra layer of challenge for players, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt.
Course history
One of the most important factors to consider when betting on the Masters is the golfer’s history on the Augusta National Golf Club course. Many past winners have had extensive experience playing the course, which gives them an advantage over newcomers. For example, Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2005, 2002, and 1997, and he had been playing at Augusta since his amateur days.
Other past winners who have a strong course history include Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010), Bubba Watson (2012, 2014), and Jordan Spieth (2015). These golfers have all played well at Augusta in the past, which gives them a good chance of performing well in future Masters tournaments.
Current form
Another important factor to consider when betting on the Masters is the golfer’s current form. It’s always a good idea to look for golfers who are in good form leading up to the tournament, as this can be a good indication of how they will perform on the day.
For example, Dustin Johnson won the 2020 Masters, and he had been in excellent form leading up to the tournament. He had won the Tour Championship just a few months prior and had finished in the top 10 in six of his previous eight events.
Other golfers who have won the Masters after exhibiting good current form include Sergio Garcia (2017), Adam Scott (2013), and Charl Schwartzel (2011).
Short game skills
The Masters course is known for its tricky greens and challenging pin positions, which means that golfers who excel at short game skills such as chipping and putting have a better chance of success.
Past winners who have demonstrated strong short game skills include Zach Johnson (2007), who is known for his precision putting, and Bubba Watson (2012, 2014), who has a unique ability to shape his shots around the course.
Mental toughness
Winning the Masters requires not only physical skill, but also mental toughness. The pressure of the tournament, combined with the intense scrutiny from the media and fans, can be overwhelming for some golfers.
Past winners who have exhibited mental toughness include Tiger Woods (2005, 2002, 1997), who is known for his ability to perform under pressure, and Jordan Spieth (2015), who showed remarkable composure during his wire-to-wire victory.
Driving distance
Finally, driving distance can be a key factor in winning the Masters. The course has several long par 4s and par 5s, which means that golfers who can hit the ball a long way off the tee have an advantage.
Past winners who have demonstrated long driving distance include Bubba Watson (2012, 2014) and Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010).
2023 Course Conditions
Wet weather in the week leading up to this year’s tournament means that the course is expected to play a little softer than usual and the winner’s mark may be closer to the Dustin Johnson’s -20 record score than the more usual -10 or so. We know that the winner will need to drive it around 300 yards from the tee, hit a lot of greens and scramble well.
The fairways at Augusta National are not as firm as usual, which will increase the course’s length but reduce the impact of the course’s formidable topography. However, golfers will face additional challenges, such as strong 20-25 mph winds blowing from the northeast to west on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Temperatures will also drop from a pleasant 27 degrees Celsius on Thursday to 14 degrees on Friday afternoon and just 10 degrees on Saturday, which is unseasonal for The Masters. As a result, the difficulty level will likely be high for the final 54 holes, particularly with prolonged periods of rain predicted for Friday and Saturday. Despite the softer conditions, a high ball flight is still likely to be crucial at Augusta, and all winners since 2008 have ranked in the top 70 on the PGA Tour Distance to Apex statistic for the season in which they won.
Tommy Fleetwood
A Major Championship campaigner to be respected this week is none other than the Englishman, Tommy Fleetwood. Although he has yet to clinch a Major Championship and a PGA Tour victory on US soil, the prevailing unseasonal playing conditions at Augusta National could work in his favor, especially with several elites in the field struggling to adapt.
A runner-up to Shane Lowry in windswept Royal Portrush in 2019, Tommy’s performance during the Florida Swing on the PGA Tour highlights his resilience. Additionally, his Major results from 2022 are exceptional, finishing 14th at The Masters, 5th at the PGA Championship, and 4th at the Open Championship, positioning him behind only a few consistent players such as Scottie Scheffler, Cam Smith, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Will Zalatoris.
Tommy is known for excelling in tough conditions and on challenging courses, making Augusta National a perfect venue for him to display his skills. His past records at the Masters also show promise, with 17th (2018), 19th (2020), and 14th (2022) finishes in his previous five attempts, including being placed 6th, 10th, and 9th heading into the final round.
Although his conversion rate needs to improve, recent victories at the DP World Tour on Bentgrass greens in South Africa and a 3rd place finish at the Valspar Championship three weeks ago suggest that Tommy has gained the necessary confidence to make a strong showing this week despite the iffy conditions. Therefore, it would be wise to keep a watchful eye on this Major Championship contender.
Cameron Young
In a field featuring defending champion Scottie Scheffler and World Number 1 Rory McIlroy as joint favourites, it may seem bold to go for a different contender, but Cameron Young is a player worth considering at The Masters this week.
Young recently beat McIlroy in the Semi Finals of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, showing his exceptional talent and ability to compete with the best. With new caddy Paul Tesori providing detailed Augusta knowledge, Young is in a strong position to access scoring positions off the tee with his prodigious length and towering approach play.
The 25-year-old New York State native’s play at the WGC Dell Match Play was astonishing, ranking first for Strokes Gained on Approach, 10th for Around the Green, 1st for Tee to Green, and 1st for Total Strokes across the 64 player group matches. Though he lost to Sam Burns in the Final, Young has something Burns doesn’t have: guilt-edged top-3 finishes in Majors. In his rookie season on the PGA Tour, Young finished 3rd at the wind-affected PGA Championship at Southern Hills and 2nd at the Open Championship in St Andrews, where he beat McIlroy. He also placed 2nd at Riviera, 3rd at Harbour Town, and 2nd at TPC Potomac, where the final 36 holes were played in gusting 25-30 mph winds and only 10 degree Celsius temperatures. He can undoubtedly handle classical, tough golf courses and now has Tesori’s experience to guide him around Augusta National on his second visit.
Though Scheffler and McIlroy are well-deserved joint favourites, Young is a player to watch at The Masters this year.
Brooks Keopka
Brooks Koepka, the two-time PGA Championship winner, is entering The Masters with a fresh victory under his belt, having clinched an impressive one-shot triumph at the LIV Golf League event in Orlando.
The Florida native demonstrated his grit and determination with a solid final-round 68 at Orange County National, finishing the week with a superb 15-under-par total to secure his second LIV Golf League victory. Koepka’s impressive performance marks him as the first player to win multiple LIV events, and the triumph will undoubtedly give him a welcome confidence boost ahead of the first major of the year.
Despite a recent injury setback that forced him to withdraw from the Honda Classic, Koepka showed no signs of rust as he played with his customary flair and intensity throughout the event. His victory was hard-fought, as he held off a strong challenge from Sebastian Munoz to claim the title by the narrowest of margins.
With The Masters just around the corner, Koepka’s victory will make him a player to watch at Augusta National, where he has enjoyed considerable success in the past, having finished in the top-10 in each of the last three years. Plying his trade now on LIV’s tour, he may well fly under the radar and offer value for punters.