From a former winner to number six in the world – and three debutants – Australia will send six players to the Augusta Nationals for this weekend’s Masters.
Although Jason Day will be absent from the tournament following the passing of a family member, the Australian contingent will certainly provide plenty of excitement for fans looking down.
On the back of his remarkable win in the Players Championship, Cam Smith looks like the best hope for an overall tournament win, but there is a lot of optimism around lesser-acclaimed names.
Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Go joined Fox Sports to preview each Aussie at Augusta.
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Cam Smith
Age: 28
2021-22 USPGA Tour campaign: Two wins and four Top 10 finishes.
Best Masters Finish: T2 in 2020.
Paul Gow said: “He’s the only player in Masters history to shoot all four rounds in the sixties. He’s been runner-up to Dustin Johnson here. He’s in form and he has the game.
“You don’t have to run the ball great at Augusta National. You just got it on the right side of the fairway, and you gotta take your eyes off it!”
Geoff Ogilvy said: “He seemed like this player for a while… He’s just built for big tournaments. Always big moments pop up. And now he’s backing it week-to-week.” He is one of the best players in the world.
“He must be really confident. He has every chance. Just a few weeks ago he won the Players Championship, one of the toughest tournaments in the world.
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Adam Scott
Age: 41
2021-22 USPGA Tour campaign: Three top 10 finishes
Best Masters Finish: 2013 Champion.
Ogilvy said: “He could really be our best chance. It’s a course where guys are wearing green jackets on their backs, it’s like 15th club for them. They just have some extra confidence.” …He’s supposed to feel comfortable there. He knows what to expect on Sundays past nine. Neither of the other boys does.
“He hits it long enough, it seems he is in control. And he has transformed himself from an average short game to one of the best short game in the world over the past four-five years.
“I think he’s every chance … I can’t see Scotty having a bad week. It’s his favorite place of the year so I’ll watch him play well.”
Go said: “He’s not driving very well, he’s been mixing drivers all year round. He’s set on one driver now. If he’s going to putter, he’s setting fire.”
march leishman
Age: 34
2021-22 USPGA Tour season: Three top 10 finishes
Best Masters Finish: T4 in 2013
Paul Go said: “Leash is flying completely under the radar here. He has played seven events, he has only missed one cut (in brutal conditions on players).
“I think he’s going to have a good round. He’s ranked 50th on the USPGA Tour on the rules greens, he’s running the ball in the 70s. If his putter gets hot, he’s in contention with Expect to stay. He has played well at Augusta National before.
“He’s now at an age where we’re waiting for him to win some sort of Major – and that could happen at the Masters.”
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Cam Davis
Age: 27
2021-22 USPGA Tour campaign: A top 10 finish
Best Masters Finish: Debut
Ogilvy said: “The first time out there, it’s tough. It’s an experience course and it’s a course that bothers you. If he can get into form he definitely has physical game – that’s right.” Not in form yet.
“But with a guy with a pedigree like this, it doesn’t take much time[to warm up].
“It’s hard. The first time out there you’re just trying to learn the place, get a little bit of experience.
“But if someone can do it, he can. He has all the means. He made the game for masters… so you never know.”
Lucas Herbert
Age: 26
2021-22 USPGA Tour campaign: Two top 10 finishes
Best Masters Finish: Debut
Go said: “He’ll hug the Masters. He loves the occasion, he’s a guy for that. He runs the ball long, the fairways are wide enough.
“These guys (budding players) have to get closer to Adam Scott or Mark Leishman or Cam Smith, who have played here many times to get that knowledge, to fast-track that knowledge.
“We know he’s got the game! He has two Top 10s this year, he won Bermuda at the end of last year – he knows he’s on the PGA Tour. But this week it’s a different animal.”
“He is a confident player,” he said. “He doesn’t miss a shot if he’s convinced.”
min woo lee
Age: 23
2021-22 USPGA Tour campaign: 3 events, 0 cut
Best Masters Finish: Debut
Ogilvy said: “He’s clearly a classy player, he does everything well. He hasn’t played very well in his journey on the Tour this year, he’s missed three cuts.
“But it’s a tough school, the PGA Tour when you first get there from Europe. He had a great year last year, he won the Scottish Open, one of the biggest tournaments in Europe.
“He’ll be ready for the Masters. He’s already been there, he’s had rounds of practice. He’ll be excited. You never know. The Masters is a little different from a normal Tour event. You get to the point. And different things can happen and people can get excited.
“If it really resonates with him and he’s in the mood, you never know. He has all the means to do well.”
