LONDON: The American has enjoyed his four visits to Augusta, registering two second-placed finishes to go with his 2015 victory. And looking for a first win since memorably becoming Open champion last summer the 24-year-old said he is close to playing at his best, with the year’s first Major just two day’s away.
“I’ve made some big strides from my past couple of tournaments. I’m very excited for what (the Masters) holds,” Spieth said. “I’ll try to nail it in the next few days and try a little speed control at Augusta and hopefully I’ll have a chance at the weekend.”
A season’s best finish of tied-third at the Houston Open on Sunday, illustrated the reason behind Spieth’s growing confidence. Added to that his natural affinity with the fabled course and the reasons for his optimism are not hard to find.
He will, however, face stiff competition as he fights to get his hands on a second Green Jacket. Multiple major winners Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson plus 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas have won Masters tuneup events and Tiger Woods is back prowling the fairways once again.
After registering two top-five finishes just three months after returning from back surgery the 14-time major winner will try for a fifth green jacket after his fourth back operation.
“I’m just there to win,” Woods said in a posting on his website earlier this week.
“I’ve been better with each week I’ve competed. A little more crisp. I’m starting to put the pieces together.”
Woods missed his third Masters in four years last year after spinal fusion surgery, but has looked close to his best at the recent the Arnold Palmer Invitational and second at the Valspar Championship.
Woods, who at a low point doubted he would ever play competitive golf again, has seen interest in his comeback tale at age 42 send resale prices for Masters badges soaring several thousand dollars above face value. He has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, has not won a tournament since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, has not played in a Major since missing the cut at the 2015 PGA Championship and last won the Masters in 2005.
A streak of 12 rounds at par or better has shown Woods has regained his health. This week will tell if he has found the form that made him a global superstar.
“It’s a lot different than the first two comebacks. He wasn’t ready,” said Australia’s Jason Day. “He came back too soon. Now he’s hitting it longer than before.”
That’s part of the reason some oddsmakers have made Woods the tournament favorite.
“That’s kind of funny,” Woods said. “Six months ago the odds were I wasn’t even going to play.”
Woods played two nine-hole practice rounds two weeks ago at Augusta National, his first at the course since the final round in 2015.
“They resurfaced a few of the greens but they still look they have been there for 100 years,” Woods said. “My yardage book was basically the same.”
Jordan Spieth is certain he is the man to beat at the Masters
Jordan Spieth is certain he is the man to beat at the Masters
- The 2018 Masters takes place April 5-8 at Augusta National Golf Course
- The defending champion is Spain's Sergio Garcia
Svitolina says mental health break fueled her run to first Australian Open semifinal
- The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2
- Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time
MELBOURNE: Elina Svitolina credited her first-ever Australian Open semifinal run to the mental health break she took at the end of last season — a move she believes rejuvenated her.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian swept aside French Open champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, ending the American third seed’s bid for a third Grand Slam title.
Svitolina, the 12th seed, reached the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time after three quarter-final appearances, keeping alive her hopes of a maiden major title.
“It was difficult decision in one hand, but then I spoke with my team and family,” Svitolina told reporters. “If I would keep pushing last year, I think I would not start here. I would be exhausted, and even not sure if I would be injury-free.
“So for me it was important to just step back, and I’m very happy that I did that. Of course, now it’s easy to say because the results have been great ... but I still think it’s something that helped me.” Svitolina won the Auckland Open this month, her 19th WTA title, after ending her 2025 season early to focus on her mental health.
Asked whether she surprised herself with how quickly she rediscovered her form, Svitolina said: “I tried to trust myself ... When I’m fresh, when I’m mentally ready to face difficult situations, then I can play well.”
Svitolina next faces Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka, against whom she holds a 1-5 losing record.
“It’s no secret she’s a very powerful player,” Svitolina said. “The power in all parts of her game is her strength. I think she’s very consistent for the past years with everything that she does on the court. I’ll have to be ready for that, try to find the ways and the little holes, little opportunities in her game.”
