1 CAN SCHEFFLER GO BACK-TO-BACK?
In the 86 editions of the Masters played since 1934, only three defending champions – Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) – have won back-to-back Masters titles.
All three belong among the elite known as Augusta specialists – when they weren’t winning they were, more often than not, well in contention.
What makes an Augusta specialist?
These days – with faster and firmer putting surfaces – a left-to-right (for right-handers) shot-shape and high ball trajectory, combined with good course knowledge, are the common thread of all Augusta specialists.
Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters Champion, finished T27 and was low amateur on debut in 2011 and since 2015 he hasn’t missed a cut. He’s a specialist.
As is the man he slipped a green jacket onto in 2022 – Scottie Scheffler, who broke through at Augusta in just his third Masters start.
Scheffler’s three-stroke victory came at the end of a phenomenal run of form, which began with his first PGA Tour win at the Phoenix Open in mid-February and followed with two more victories in March and ended with his maiden major win at Augusta.
The 26-year-old, with his natural high fading shot shape will see him contend at Augusta for many years to come, but he will have to overcome history to join the likes of Nicklaus, Faldo and Woods.
Defending at Augusta National is tough, as four of the past seven defending champions will testify as they missed the cut. In fact, only four of the past 21 winners have finished in the top-10 the following year.
2 WILL TIGER MAKE AN IMPACT?
In short, yes.
His return to the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational in February was more a training run than a serious bid to win at Riviera, where he has never won. If he could walk that golf course six times in
