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This space is often occupied by non-Bears topics, but those topics are rarely – if ever – other sports. The reason is simple: I don’t watch most other sports. I don’t watch baseball, basketball or hockey. I don’t even watch college football. I watch the NFL. I watch soccer. And I watch golf, my favorite sport, in every single form.
Since there is a serious lull in actual news around the Chicago Bears, today I’m dedicating this space to the greatest golf tournament in the world: The Masters Tournament.
Who Will Win?
Brooks Koepka (+2000)
In January, I had Cam Smith projected to win this tournament. But after winning The Players, is he really going to pull off the kind of double reserved for the legends of the sport?
Scottie Scheffler is the hottest player in the world. But in two appearances at Augusta National he has not contended. Scheffler is going to win here. But not this week.
Jon Rahm’s got a balky putter. Justin Thomas has a poor track record at the majors. Dustin Johnson is capable of hitting his driver fifty yards off-line currently. Rory McIlroy is, well, Rory McIlroy. (And with a green jacket on the line, he’s REALLY Rory McIlroy.)
So, with all that indecision, give me the game’s best player when it comes to major weeks. (And he’s in sneaky good form.)
Who Will Top 5?
Shane Lowry (+800)
When trying to project golf finishes, two factors matter: form and course history. Lowry’s last three results in stroke play events are a second at Honda, 13th at The Players and 12th at Valspar. He has been in the top 25 the last two years at Augusta. And with wind expected all week, it’s hard to find a player who handles the conditions better.
At that number, this seems a solid bet.
Who Will Top 10?
Corey Conners (+450)
Conners finished in the top ten in 2020.
Conners finished in the top ten in 2021.
If he can avoid the third-round 75s that derailed him at both the Texas Open and Players, he can be relevant on the second nine come Sunday.
Who Will Top 20?
Tommy Fleetwood (+230)
Fleetwood is a world class ball striker whose game had seemingly hit the skids. But since a missed cut at the Honda, Tommy has finished 20th at Bay Hill, 22nd at The Players and 16th at Valspar. He’s found his game and is finding the results.
Tommy was beaten by one man at Shinnecock. He was beaten by one man at Portrush. He’s been so close to a major championship and this week he’ll take a big step towards a big season.
Will Tiger Make the Cut?
Oh yes.
