Will We See a European Winner at Augusta?

Apparently, it's been seventeen years since a European has won the Masters.  That surprised me.  But I heard it on the Golfchannel so it must be true.  I have a feeling we could see a European winner this year.  Justin Rose might be the first one who comes to mind after his second place finish last year--or is it Rory who has been working like a demon in preparation for Augusta?

Given the weather promises to make things extra tough this year, I think you could see Graeme McDowell contend.  If there was ever a mudder, he's the guy.  He's tough as nails.  Another European who just might surprise everyone is Cabrera-Bello.  His record in the Majors certainly doesn't inspire confidence, but he was seven under in his last round last week in Texas to have a top five finish and he's currently number two in the Race to Dubai.  He's been knocking on the door all year and he could just surprise everyone by being the first guy since Fuzzy to win in his first try at Augusta.  Granted, he's a dark horse, but he's coming into Augusta full of confidence and now realizing that he is a world class player.

And then there's Sergio.  Could he finally get a Major?  I know his putting can be suspect, and he's even said he's not good enough to win a Major.  But he's been in great form this year and with the wind blowing his ball striking makes him one of the guys who can handle the conditions from tee to green.  It's whether he can make the six footer when he has to that is the question.

Another ball striker who might finally break through is Stenson.  Henrik is probably the best ball striker in the game right now.  The ball always seems to come out of the center of his bat.  Again, the issue is going to be putting with the big Swede.

The reality is there are alot of guys coming into Augusta in great form.  The difficult conditions will, however, make it likely that the winner will be the guy who just refuses to give up.  I'm not necessarily betting on a European winner this year.  But I'm certainly not betting against it.

The Fab Four?

I think it's perhaps time to admit that the Fab Four's performance has been somewhat underwhelming of late.  Rickie Fowler has played the best, but he seems to be struggling a bit since his playoff loss to Matsuyama.

Jason Day has not played much, and when he has, it's been hardly the kind of golf he played at the end of last season.  Jordan Spieth looks very much out of sync.  And Rory, after his second Sunday collapse in a row, looks to be discombobulated, but definitely buffed.

Golf is a fickle game.  You have it one day, and the following day you can't piddle a drop.  But the great players seem to find a way to make a score, even if they haven't got their best stuff.  Jordan Spieth was probably the best example we've seen of this since Tiger Woods--until recently.

I don't necessarily see any need for the Fab Four to panic.  It's still a few weeks until Augusta, and they just might be able to peak at the right time.  But right now the best picks for this year's green jacket seem to be Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, and maybe even Phil.  They know how to get it done around Augusta National, and they are in the best form.

I was one who was celebrating the emergence of these four exciting players.  I thought it was great for the game.  But it appears it isn't going to be quite as easy for them to dominate the game as it looked like it was going to be.  There are some thirty and forty somethings who apparently aren't quite done yet.

One thing for certain, the Masters is going to be as interesting as ever this year.