Adam Hadwin: My picks for Masters glory

Throughout the season, Canadian golf stars Adam Hadwin, David Hearn and Graham DeLaet will check in with Globalnews.ca to provide readers with candid insights as they compete on the PGA Tour.

Golf’s majors always seem to bring out the best players—the cream rises to the top. And that’s where you want to be—competing against the best in the biggest tournaments. It’s something you think about when you’re on the range practicing or heading into a tournament— you’re just getting ready for your shot at a major.

With that in mind, obviously I want to play the Masters. I’ve never had the chance. You’re certainly one of the best players in the game if you even manage to qualify to get to Augusta. The process is just so difficult—you’ve either won, or gotten into the Tour Championship or finished the year in the Top 50 in the world. Regardless, you’re one of the best in the game. That’s a given, and you’ve done something pretty spectacular to just get in.

But just getting to the Masters isn’t enough. I want to be there multiple times. I want to be in contention on the back nine. I want to experience the shots you see on the back nine and witness the crowd on Sunday. Like every pro out here, I want to compete and have the chance to have the previous champion put the green jacket on me.

That said, I will definitely be tuning in to watch the Masters this week. As I get older I’ve become more interested in watching golf. I wasn’t that interested in the past, but these days I find myself watching on the weekend if I’m not playing. I watched Jim Herman this past weekend, partly because I know him, and also because I wanted to see how he’d finish up. And it fascinated me to see how he played in holding off players like Dustin Johnson. As well, I find that because I’ve played the same courses, I have local knowledge about how they are playing certain shots. That makes it interesting to hear what the announcers have to say, for future reference, I’m learning what to do—or what not to do—on certain holes. I also find myself cheering for everyone—I want all of them to do well, but it is especially true when someone like Jim, a person I really like, is near the top.

I can’t remember the first time I watched the Masters. It was probably around Tiger Woods’ win in 1997. But you remember all of the great ones, like when Mike Weir won in 2003. Watching a Canadian put on the green jacket was a thrill. Of course there are others you remember. There was the battle between Chris Dimarco and Tiger in 2005 when Woods chipped in on the 16th hole, and Bubba’s shot out of the trees on the 10th in 2012, or even Adam Scott a year later making the putts he made on 18 to win.

So who do I like this week?

It is tough to bet against Bubba at Augusta. He’s played well this year and he gets up for the Masters, soaks it in and really enjoys the emotion of it. He can really move the ball, which is perfect for Augusta.

Phil Mickelson is another favourite. He’s played so well this year and when I hear him talk about his game he’s saying all the right things about how excited he is about playing. And at Houston he said he played like he would at Augusta, shaping shots that he’ll need this week. It is easy to see him in the conversation.

If I had to choose between Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Spieth, I’d pick Rory. He’s had issues at Augusta, and while he’s not playing his best golf, I think he’ll do well at Augusta. I think he has to be in the mix, even though Jason Day has been on fire lately.

And finally for a dark horse pick I’d look at Rafael Cabrera-Bello. I played with him at PGA Tour Qualifying School in 2011 and he’s a great player. It is his first Masters, but he’s coming in with a hot hand. He just shot 7-under in the final round of Houston.