Tiger Woods is the standard but Spieth and McIlroy need inspection

With the arrival of April and springtime, Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, will continue a tradition unlike any other and award a green jacket to the champion of the 87th Masters Tournament.

Dr. Alister Mackenzie and Bobby Jones' design hosted the first event in 1934 as Horton Smith became the first champion. The former Fruitland Nurseries has evolved and kept true to the original vision of how the course should play.

The evolution has continued in recent years as No. 5 (Magnolia) added a new tee and 20 yards in 2019. Hole No. 15 (Firethorn) added 20 yards before the 2022 edition. Change continues in 2023 as No. 13 (Azalea) will debut a new tee box adding 35 yards to a scorecard that will now read 7,545 yards (Par-72).

Scottie Scheffler (+900) will return to defend his title and look to join Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only members in that very select club. At 26 years old, the Texan was well below the average winning age of almost 33. Most winners need around seven visits before winning, but the third time was a charm for the 2023 PLAYERS champion. He joins a list of four of the last eight winners to slip on the green jacket in four or less attempts. Only Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) has won on debut since 1935.

While Scheffler will have plenty of attention as the host of the champions’ dinner for the first time, Tiger Woods (+6600) being on property and competing this week shifts the attention. The 2019 winner will look to match Jack Nicklaus and his six wins with a victory this year. He's never missed the cut as a professional, playing the weekend in 23 of 24 visits, and has hit the podium eight times.

Only Woods was younger than Jordan Spieth (+1800) when he tied the legend's tournament scoring record in 2015. Both posted 18-under, but Spieth was the first to reach 19 under in April tournament play. Announcing his intentions with T2 in his 2014 on debut, Spieth almost joined the back-to-back club in 2016. His defense ended as hole No. 12 (Golden Bell) intervened, yet he signed for T2. All five of his top 10 paydays from nine visits are on the podium. A streak of eight straight-made cuts was broken last year, but only one other trip outside T21. Holds the tournament record for birdies with 28 in 2015.

Dustin Johnson (+2500) set the tournament scoring record on 20 under par to win by five shots in the only edition played in November. Johnson's streak of five consecutive top-10 paydays ended with his defense (MC) just five months later. Bouncing back in 2022, he signed for T12 to pick up his seventh T13 or better in his last nine visits.

From making the cut twice as an amateur, it was only a matter of time before Hideki Matsuyama (+4000) mastered Augusta National. A brilliant 65 in Round 3 in 2021, the best of his career, saw him run away from the field to claim his first green jacket. His only MC from 11 events was in 2014, his first year as a professional. Streak is eight in a row after posting T14 in defense last April. Of those eight paydays, only one is outside of the top 20.

Usually reserved for past champions Rory McIlroy (+700) has forced himself into a HFC role without taking the final step. Closing with 64 last year, his personal best and one shot from matching the course record, the Ulsterman posted his best finish, solo second, in his 14th attempt. His seventh top 10 in his last nine events reinforces his relevancy around these hallowed grounds.

Oddsmaker's Extra

(events/cuts made, odds)

Cameron Smith (6/6; +2000): Streak of top-10 paydays is three straight and four of his last five. Led the event in both Par-5 scoring (-9) and Birdies (22) last year.

Corey Conners (4/5; +4000): Also has cashed three consecutive visits inside the top 10 and hasn't missed in his four starts as a professional. Winner last week at Valero matches his path in 2019 (T46).

Will Zalatoris (2/2; +3300): Of eight rounds played six are in red figures, and both visits are in the top 10. Solo second on debut in 2021 followed T6 last year. Setting the curve for the new faces.

Patrick Reed (7/9; +6600): 2018 winner followed with T10 in 2020 and T8 in 2021. Cashed in his last five visits.

Jon Rahm (6/6; +900): T27 last year and T27 on debut in 2017 with four top 10 sandwiched in the middle. Solo fourth in his second visit provides the highlight. Posted five rounds of 68 or better from 24 total.

Justin Thomas (7/7; +2000): Year-over-year improvement ended with T21 in 2021. Signed for T8 in 2022, his best April finish. Posted 68 or better in each of his previous five visits.

Sungjae Im (2/3; +3300): Ran second on debut in 2020 before 77-80 in his first April visit. First round leader last year (67) before T8.

Charl Schwartzel (9/13; +20000): 2011 winner on his second visit grabbed T3 in 2017 plus T10 in 2022.

Xander Schauffele (4/5; +2200): T2 2019 plus T3 2021. MC 2022.

Jason Day (8/11; +2500): T5 in 2019 was his fourth top 10 in nine tries. DNS 2022 after MC the previous two seasons.

Tony Finau (5/5; +2500): Three top 10 paydays including T5 in 2019 plus T10 on debut and 2021.

Streaking

Consecutive cuts made ( ); previous champion (*)

*Tiger Woods (22)

*Adam Scott (13)

Matt Fitzpatrick (7)

*Bubba Watson (5)

Russell Henley (5)

Tommy Fleetwood (5)

Si Woo Kim (5)

Billy Horschel (4)

Kevin Na (4)

Keegan Bradley (3)

Cameron Champ (3)

Keep reading for more notable history!

-Odds courtesy of BETMGM.COM-

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