PGA Tour pros talk about it all the time, but peaking at the right time of the schedule is incredibly important. No player in the world wants to peak during the all-around October season.
They want to peak during peak season.
With the Masters on the horizon, we wanted to dive into some stats from January so far and see who hits the ball best. We wanted to see who put themselves in a position to feel safe about their game at Augusta National Golf Club.
For this list, let’s take a look at Strokes Gained: Ballstrike. SG:BS is not an official PGA Tour statistic, but is used by many golf databases. It’s a combination of SG: Off the Tee and SG: Approach. Think of it as SG: Tee to Green minus SG: Around the Green. It essentially tells how well a player hits the ball.
Here are the top 11 players in SG: Ballstrike since 1/1/2023 (at least 20 rounds measured).
2023 champions: Odds for each player in the field
Statistics taken from data golf And Kyle Porter.
Jon Rahm (+1.4)
Jon Rahm celebrates after scoring his birdie putt on number 18 during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
No surprise to see the Spaniard on this list.
His year got off to a hot start, winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the American Express, and the Genesis Invitational. However, since his win in LA, Rahm has finished 39th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, retired from the Players Championship due to illness, and failed to make it out of pool play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Master’s Story: T-27 (’17), 4 (’18), T-9 (’19), T-7 (’20), T-5 (’21) and T-27 (’22).
Odds of winning: +850
Max Homa (+1.4)
Max Homa plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Sports)
Like Rahm, Max Homa has already won several times this season. He successfully defended his title at the Fortinet Championship and picked up another win in California at the Farmers Insurance Open.
However, his track record at Augusta is nothing special.
Master’s Story: MC (’20), MC (’21) and T-48 (’22).
Odds of winning: +3200
Gary Woodland (+1.5)
Gary Woodland walks to the sixth green during practice ahead of the 2018 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press)
forest, really? Yes, the 2019 US Open champion has flown under the radar so far this season, but he’s playing solid golf. He’s made the weekend in five of his seven starts in 2023, including a top-10 at the Genesis Invitational.
Master’s Story: T-24 (’11), 63 (’12), T-26 (’14), MC (’15, ’17, ’18), T-32 (’19), MC (’20), T- 40 (’21) and MC (’22).
Odds of winning: +19000
Tyrrell Hatton (+1.5)
Tyrrell Hatton hits from a bunker at number 13 during a practice round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Hatton, despite not winning, is standing on a heater. Thanks to a 7-under final round, the Englishman became runner-up behind Scottie Scheffler in the Players Championship. The week before, Hatton placed fourth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He also earned a top 10 finish at the WM Phoenix Open.
Master’s Story: MC (’17), T-44 (’18), T-56 (’19), MC (’20), T-18 (’21) and 52 (’22).
Odds of winning: +5500
Tony Finau (+1.7)
Tony Finau putts on the 17th green during round three of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Big Tone has been the model of consistency so far this season. Since winning the Houston Open, Finau has finished in the top 25 in all eight starts he’s made in 2023. Oh, and he loves Augusta.
Master’s Story: T-10 (’18), T-5 (’19), T-38 (’20), T-10 (’21) and T-35 (’22).
Odds of winning: +3200
Cameron Young (+1.8)
Cameron Young of the United States on the 13th green during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 05, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Young picked up a couple of top-20 finishes in back-to-back weeks at the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational before finishing second to Sam Burns in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. His recent caddy move to Paul Tesori should pay off at Augusta National.
Master’s Story: MC (’22)
Odds of winning: +2900
Patrick Cantlay (+1.8)
Patrick Cantlay watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during a practice round for the Masters tournament on Monday, April 5, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia (Photo by Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
After missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open, Cantlay finished third at the Genesis Invitational, T-4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T-19 at the Players Championship and T-9 at the WGC-Dell Match Play. He’s trending, but Cantlay has fought in major championships throughout his career.
Master’s Story: T-47 (’12), MC (’18), T-9 (’19), T-17 (’20), MC (’21) and T-39 (’22).
Odds of winning: +2200
Collin Morikawa (+1.8)
Collin Morikawa hits his tee shot on the 13th hole in the second round of the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher – USA TODAY Sports)
Morikawa is still looking for his first win since the 2021 Open. The Cal product started the year with three top-six finishes in its first four starts of 2023, but has since cooled. Morikawa missed the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied for 13th in the Players, and was stuck in pool at the WGC-Dell Match Play.
Master’s Story: T-44 (’20), T-18 (’21), 5 (’22).
Odds of winning: +2400
Viktor Hovland (+1.8)
Viktor Hovland is awarded the low amateur prize after the final round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Hovland has been incredibly consistent since early 2023. In seven starts, Hovland has achieved five top 20 finishes, highlighted by a bronze medal at the Players Championship.
Master’s Story: T-32 (’19), T-21 (’21) and T-27 (’22).
Odds of winning: +3900
Rory McIlroy (+2.0)
Rory McIlroy celebrates after putting in the 18th hole from a bunker during the final round of the Masters golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy aims to become the sixth player in golf history to win a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy defeated Scheffler in the consolation match at the WGC-Dell Match Play for third place. He was a runner-up to Kurt Kitayama at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
After missing the cut at the Players Championship, McIlroy made several changes to his equipment: a new Scotty Cameron putter and a shorter shaft in his driver.
Master’s Story: T-20 (’09), MC (’10), T-15 (’11), T-40 (’12), T-25 (’13), T-8 (’14), 4 (’15 ), T-10 (’16), T-7 (’17), T-5 (’18), T-21 (’19), T-5 (’20), MC (’21) and 2 ( ’22).
Odds of winning: +850
Scottie Scheffler (+2.4)
Scottie Scheffler reacts on the podium while wearing the green jacket during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Katie Goodale-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
Scheffler goes into the Masters week again with a heater. First he successfully defended the World Championship Phoenix Open in February. He then smashed the field at the Players Championship, winning the tour’s flagship by five shots.
In his most recent start, the Texan reached the semifinals of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Scheffler is in great shape to do a repeat in Augusta, Georgia.
Master’s Story: T-19 (’20), T-18 (’21) and 1 (’22).
Odds of winning: +800
Source : sports.yahoo.com