The Masters Final Day: Who Can Win?

The Masters. The greatest spectacle in the world of golf. The world's most elite golfers have gathered and after 56 holes we have a reasonable idea of who the main contenders are. With thirteen players separated by just four shots there is so much to play for going into the final 18 holes. So this article will look at who are the front runners going into this evenings final events.

The Contenders

Name: Jordan Spieth

Age: 20

Score: -5 (71-70-70)

Previous Best Masters Performance: Debut

Jordan Spieth has probably been the outstanding performer at this year’s Masters so far and has certainly been the stand-out rookie. The young American has not let the course or the occasion phase him as he has steadily and consecutively shot under par. Not only that, but his demeanor both on and off the course has been that of someone years beyond his age and experience. If Spieth wins he will become the youngest ever winner of the Masters, eclipsing the record set by Tiger Woods and with Watson suffering an error-prone Saturday there is every chance it could happen. Co-leader heading into the final day it will be intriguing to see how Spieth copes with the pressure.

Name: Bubba Watson

Age: 35

Score: -5 (69-68-74)

Previous Best Masters Performance: Winner (2012)

After a disappointing attempt to defend his 2012 Masters green jacket last year, Bubba is back. The only man to not bogey a single hole on Thursday coupled with five consecutive birdies on the back nine of Friday left Bubba flying high going into the weekend. But leading a tournament is not his strong point, with just one win of his eight weekend leads he will be hoping to put a disappointing Saturday behind him as he searches for his second green jacket. But if he is to do that in amongst a tough field, he will have to conjure up some of that Bubba magic that earned him his first.

Name: Matt Kuchar

Age: 35

Score: -4 (73-71-68)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-3 (2012)

Another 35-year old American sits at the top of the bunch as Matt Kuchar is currently positioned just one shot off the lead. Kuchar is no stranger to being in the thick of it on the final day of the Masters, as two top ten finishes in the last two years will tell you. After a rather sluggish start to the week an excellent Saturday will give him the confidence to drive forward and claim his maiden Masters title. In last weekends preparatory tournament in Houston Kuchar finished second after a playoff defeat to the Australian Matt Jones. Can he go one better this week in Augusta?

Name: Jonas Blixt

Age: 29

Score: -4 (70-71-71)

Previous Best Masters Performance: Debut

Of all the contenders for this years green jacket, Blixt is the wildcard. Like Spieth, Blixt is making his Masters debut and is certainly picking some fans up on the way. His aggressive style of play means he makes a number of bogeys but also a fair few more birdies, leaving him with three below par rounds under his belt. This is not Blixt’s first ever major though. Last year he put together a composed round at the PGA Championship, finishing fourth and demonstrating that he has the tools to remain consistent throughout a major championship. Another debutant in with a great chance of a maiden major.

Name: Miguel Angel Jimenez

Age: 50

Score: -3 (71-76-66)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-8 (2008)

Miguel Angel Jimenez stands in stark contrast to the two rookies mentioned above as he made his Masters debut twenty years ago next year. The cigar-wielding Spaniard has rolled back the years this week to currently sit in his strongest ever-Masters position of tied fifth as he still searches for that elusive major. A second round 76 meant he barely made the cut but some scintillating swinging on Saturday left him with a six under par 66 propelling him right into the thick of things. With plenty of experience on his side can Jimenez put together a super Sunday to claim a European green jacket?

Name: Rickie Fowler

Age: 25

Score: -3 (71-75-67)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-27 (2012)

Since his Rookie of the Year award in 2010 Zac Efron’s doppleganger, Rickie Fowler,  has promised much but delivered little when it comes to majors and especially at Augusta where he has struggled to ever challenge at the top of the leaderboard. However, now making his fourth appearance at the Masters, Fowler might finally be getting to grips with the course, a silky 67 on Saturday epitomizing this. Whilst he may not necessarily have the mental game to take this year’s green jacket, he will certainly light up our evening on the final day with his glowing trademark orange jumpsuit.

The Dark Horses

Name: Lee Westwood

Age: 40

Score: -2 (73-71-70)

Previous Best Masters Performance: 2^nd (2010)

Its been a performance we have become accustomed to seeing from Lee Westwood throughout his career; steady, solid and consistent. Perhaps unsurprisingly Westwood has dropped less shots than any of the players above him in the leaderboard. However, If Lee is to put forward a serious challenge on the final day, he needs to convert some of these ever-present par’s into birdies. But at the end of the day, if anyone deserves a major, its Lee Westwood.

Name: Jim Furyk

Age: 43

Score: -2 (74-68-72)

Previous Best Masters Performance: 4^th (1998, 2003)

Despite a marvellous Friday round of 68 which contained no bogeys whatsoever, Jim Furyk has barely received a mention in the press. This seems remarkable considering he is a proven dangerman with a US Open title under his belt and a 2^nd place at last years PGA Championship proving he still has the game to mix it with the best. Don’t be surprised to see him creep up the leaderboard as the evening progresses.

Name: Thomas Bjorn

Age: 43

Score: -2 (73-68-73)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-18 (2002)

It has been a tournament of ‘what if’s’ for the veteran Dane so far this year as he, like so many others, seeks his maiden major. He got a brief glimpse of Augusta glory when he co-lead on Saturday but a spat of three bogeys meant he fell away into the evening. If Bjorn is to have success on a course that has never been kind to him, then a masterful round needs to be shot on Sunday.

Name: Justin Rose

Age: 33

Score: -1 (76-70-69)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-5 (2007)

If it had not been for such a hideous opening round then the current US Open champion would be well in the hunt for his second major. Unfortunately his opening round of 76 has left the Hampshire-born star with plenty of catching up to do. Rounds of 70 and 69 have pushed him under par for the tournament but something even better will be required if he is to claim his first green jacket.

Name: Kevin Stadler

Age: 34

Score: -1 (70-73-72)

Previous Best Masters Performance: Debut

Like father like son? Kevin Stadler, son of former Masters winner Craig Stadler, is another fresh face to the Masters scene as the 34-year-old American makes his Masters debut. Stadler has certainly attacked the course in his first year with just the one par across Amen Corner’s three holes in his opening three rounds. The green jacket might be beyond him but his father will be proud of his debut regardless.

Name: Fred Couples

Age: 54

Score: -1 (71-71-73)

Previous Best Masters Performance: Winner (1992)

They say wine gets better with age and in that sense Fred Couples is certainly a very fine wine. It may be 22 years since his only Masters victory but we have become well accustomed to seeing the veteran in amongst the front runners on the final day as he has finished inside the top fifteen in every one of the last four years. Can Couples outfox all of his young compatriots?

Name: John Senden

Age: 42

Score: -1 (72-68-75)

Previous Best Masters Performance: T-35 (2013)

Australian John Senden has made the cut only once before in his four Masters appearances but yesterday found himself in the final pairing after a marvellous four under par 68 on Friday. However Senden seemed to struggle with the pressure and will probably prefer being away from the lead and out of the limelight. Will he depart Sunday with a shiny new green jacket though? I don’t think so.

The Long-Shots

Gary Woodland – At one point yesterday Woodland was four under par after picking up seven shots from just ten holes. Unfortunately Amen Corner became his undoing as he collapsed to level par.

Ian Poulter – Like his national compatriot Rose, Poulter's tournament was ruined by a disappointing first round of 76. Would have to have an excellent round and rely on the dropped shots of others.

Kevin Streelman – There or there abouts for much of the week but just not quite had the class to convert a steady run into an excellent run. Expect a solid top twenty finish.

Adam Scott – Looked in brilliant form after Thursday becoming the first defending champion to shoot sub-70 since Vijay Singh in 2000. Faded as the week has progressed and unlikely to retain.

Scott in the Mix as Haas Leads Masters

Haas leads after day on of the Masters.

Bill Haas goes into the second day of this years Masters tournament as the outright leader on four under par but a whole host of experienced players lurk just a few shots behind him on the glorious Augusta greens.

Haas made the most of favourable morning conditions as he shot six birdies and two bogeys to card a solid four under par. After dropping a shot on the 17th, the American recovered with a marvelous birdie to end his day with a 68 and the outright leader.

However Haas will spend Friday looking nervously over his shoulder as former champion Bubba Watson and defending champion Adam Scott sit one shot behind on three under par. Alongside them is 2012 runner-up Louis Oosthuizen.

Watson was one of few afternoon starters to make an impression on the leaderboard and was the only player not to drop a shot at any point during the day. The 2012 Masters Champion looked composed as players around him faltered.

Scott flopped a tee shot into the water.

Scott also had an excellent day, leading by two stokes at one point before falling foul to a cruel pin position on the twelfth, placing his tee shot into the water and taking a double bogey. After becoming the first Australian to win the Masters last year, Scott is this year seeking to become just the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket.

Brandt Snedeker is one of a host of players on two under par. The American looked to be going into the clubhouse on three under before a sloppy final hole left him one back. The first into the clubhouse was Kevin Stadler with a steady two under but it was the Swede Jonas Blixt who made the biggest impression, four under after fourteen before a couple of bogeys left him trailing the lead by just two strokes.

British favourite Rory McIlroy is still well in contention as he sits just one under par alongside a mixture of youth and experience. The Northern Irishman had a mixed day with three bogeys to go alongside his four birdies but will be more than happy to still be well in the hunt.

Bubba Watson rises up the leaderboard.

McIlroy is joined on one under by the experienced veterans Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jimenez as well as youngsters Jordan Spieth and Matteo Manassero and a number of other players including debutant Scotsman Stephen Gallacher.

But it was not an overwhelmingly positive opening day for the British players with just Graeme McDowell not ending the day over par as he entered the clubhouse on level par. Last out on the course Lee Westwood endured a testing afternoon breeze to finish one over after a dropped shot on the final hole.

Veteran Sandy Lyle endured a miserable back nine as he collapsed from three under par to four over par alongside Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and current US Open champion Justin Rose. It was an even more dismal day for Luke Donald who never recovered from a double bogey on the opening hole to collapse to seven over par.