‘If he’s on his game, the tournament’s over’ – PGA Tour star names the man to beat at the Masters
A PGA Tour pro believes one player could run away with the Masters – but also points to a familiar name lurking.
One PGA Tour pro believes this year’s Masters could be over before it really gets going.
Speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, four-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Kisner offered a confident – and pretty uncompromising – view on who he’s backing to bag a Green Jacket.
“If Rory’s on his game, the tournament’s over,” he said. “Now he has won his Green Jacket, if he comes out firing like he was, he won’t have those silly wedge shots he dumped in the creek and the bunker coming down the stretch on Sunday, just because he’s done it.
“So if he’s off and running at Augusta, you can just go ahead and turn the TV off.”
It’s a statement that speaks to McIlroy’s form and freedom. With that long-awaited breakthrough now behind him, the five-time major winner arrives at Augusta National Golf Club without the same weight on his shoulders – and that could be a dangerous proposition.
“I feel so much more relaxed,” said McIlroy. “I know that I’m going to be coming back here for a lot of years, going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here.
“It doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, but yeah, just more relaxed about it all.”
A resurgent former champion
Of course, tipping the defending champion and world number two isn’t exactly going out on a limb. But Kisner didn’t stop there.
He also pointed to another name – a man who won three majors in three seasons, but hasn’t won one for nine years.
“How about a little Jordan Spieth Green Jacket revival?” said Kisner. “If you watch his game, he’s been in that 15–25 area all year. He’s striping it. He’s not making any putts, but he feels so comfortable on the Augusta greens that if that little flatstick gets hot, and he’s cocky enough, I just think he could be around.”
It’s a familiar profile for Spieth in recent times – trending without quite getting over the line – but Augusta always has a habit of bringing out his best.
“A stat for you, Jordan Spieth in 2026 is playing the par threes under par. And when you go look at Augusta National, the par threes are a pivotal, pivotal moment in the round every time,” Kisner added.
“You’ve got four playing 250 yards, then you go to six where guys make two to five, then you go to 12 where guys make two to five, and then 16 if you’re striping your irons, you can birdie to every pin. So to play the par threes under par for the season is incredible. Insanity.”
Before you stick all your money on Spieth, it’s worth taking a moment to note that he’s actually one of 26 players currently averaging under par on par 3 holes this season. The others include Adam Scott, Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry, and Min Woo Lee, while Blades Brown leads par 3 scoring with his average of 2.88.
Still, it’s a good sign for the 32-year-old Texan who won the Masters in 2015 and has a total of six top-five finishes under his belt.
