Masters 2024: SB Nation staff predicts who will win at Augusta National

The most wonderful week of the year has arrived.

The Masters Tournament has begun, and for the first time in 2024, the world’s best players will play together on the same course. Of this year’s 89 competitors, 13 LIV golfers will tee up, including last year’s champion Jon Rahm.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to win the 2022 Augusta National. But what makes the Masters so special each year is that anyone can win, and the tournament doesn’t really begin until Sunday’s back nine. .

Remember back in 1986 when Jack Nicklaus made one of Augusta’s most legendary back nine charges? The “Golden Bear” paraded around Amen Corner, taking an eagle on the 15th, making 16 birdies and finishing with another birdie on the 17th. Nicklaus, 46, did the unthinkable and won his sixth green jacket in the most spectacular way possible. Tom Kite, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman.

But Tiger Woods did the unthinkable in 2019 as well. Woods played it safe on the back nine while everyone else around him made mistakes. Next, he went for a killer shot on the par-3 16th hole, but his tee shot almost fell into an ace. Woods made birdie to claim his almost 15th major victory.

Remember, the Masters doesn’t start until Sunday’s back nine.

With that in mind, SB Nation’s Playing Through has submitted its picks for the 88th Masters.

Kendall Capps – Senior Editor

i am taking Tony Finau Sitting in Butler Cabin on a Sunday night.

His experience at Augusta National has been crucial, with three top-10s and one top-five in his last five starts. He plays this course well.

Finau said Augusta National is his favorite course to play, along with Riviera and Torrey Pines, and that the course suits his game well.

He’s always been a great lag putter, but in the last few years he’s gotten much better at short putts, which is a must to win a green jacket.

But perhaps best of all, he’s in good shape heading into the tournament, nearly replicating what he did two weeks ago at the Houston Open.

Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images

Jacques Mirko – Staff Writer

Many PGA Tour stars struggled this year. Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, all solid Ironmen players, haven’t been at their best in 2024, and that trend continues at Augusta. That’s what I imagine.

That leaves me between the two players who, interestingly enough, have won the last two Green Jackets. However, of these two, he is the only one to win the 2024 tournament.

That would be Scottie Scheffler, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players back-to-back. No one can hit the ball like Scheffler, and if he has a decent week with the putter, he should win easily.

Additionally, believe it or not, Scheffler is scheduled to compete in a major championship.

Since winning the 2022 Masters, he has finished in the top 10 at majors four times, including a tie for second at Oak Hill last year and a solo third at the U.S. Open.

Scheffler draped the green jacket over Rahm’s shoulders a year ago, but this time the tables are reversed.

augusta national

Savannah Lee Richardson – Staff Writer

What I choose for the Masters is: Brooks Koepka.

For 72 hours last year, it looked like Koepka would win his fifth major championship and the coveted green jacket. But as Rahm raced to win his second major title and his first Masters title in Sunday’s final round, he stumbled.

But Koepka learned from the experience, took his anger out, and bounced back to get revenge at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Of all the majors, though, Koepka wants this one the most. He came close to winning the 2019 Masters, but his chances diminished when he hit his tee shot into Ray’s Creek on the 12th hole for double bogey.

I feel like this year is his year. Brussie finally got his green jacket on Sunday.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.