Spring has reached most parts of the Northern hemisphere, flowers are slowly bursting into bloom, and Augusta is getting closer and closer.
A dramatic tour Sunday saw Bryson DeChambeau beat John Rahm in an impressive LIV Golf showdown and at The Copperhead Course Matt Fitzpatrick cemented his spot at the world's most in form golfer right now.
With The Masters just weeks away, these are my takes on what happened the past weekend – and what is to come.
LIV Golf may be an expensive sports washing project with little return of investment for the Saudi owners. But when it all started a duel like the one we saw Sunday must have been exactly what they signed up for. Many with me have not really cared about the results in this exhibition tour but in Johannesburg the world's most popular golfer and a former Masters Champion went face to face in a thrilling playoff. It was YouTube star Bryson DeChambeau who finally came out on top. This is the type of drama that can lead to traction and momentum for the tour – especially if their players in a few weeks time do well at Augusta National.
The Valspar Championship took place at the iconic Copperhead Course on the west coast of Florida. Matt Fitzpatrick, runner up at The Players, prevailed and thanks to a birdie on the last hole won his third title on The PGA Tour. Yes, he has won the US Open, but it is still impressive how a player that used to carry the worst Ryder Cup record of all has become this mentally strong.
Another interesting interesting fact. Former LIV player Brooks Koepka followed up his 13th place at The Players with a 19th at The Valspar. This means that he has now finished inside the top 20 in his last three starts – a clear sign of improved form that bodes well ahead of the Masters. However, one must wonder how detrimental the LIV move then must have been to his game.
Unfortunately, fewer and fewer cares about what happens on the DP World Tour and the fact that American Jordan Gumberg won in China has therefore almost gone unnoticed. Given the two countries political past there is however a pretty special storyline.
On the LPGA Tour, fan favorite Nelly Korda shot an impressive front nine 32 in order to make things interesting at The Fortinet Founders Cup, only to see the tournament slipp out of her hands. Korea's Hyo Jo Kim won even though she bogeyd the last two holes. All together another proof of how tough of a mental challenge golf can be.
So, is Matt Fitzpatrick the favorite heading into The Masters? My answer is definitely maybe, and maybe not. He is the most in form golfer in the world right now. However, there is a big question mark to whether his golf fits the sloping fairways of Augusta National. Fitzpatrick's best finish at The Masters is a T7 recorded in 2016. Yet, at that point he hadn't really become the golfer he is today. He had played in the Ryder Cup, but had yet to win in the States and was far from the major champion he is today. So therefore; maybe.
At Augusta the high flying ball onto the green does give an advantage. You also need to be able to hit draws with the ball below your feet and fades with the ball above them. Especially the high flying one is not really Fitzpatrick's cup of tea. At the same time, a spinny shortgame and stellar putting is a must – two parts of the game Fitzpatrik over the last few years have come to master.
Other golfers well-equipped to win The Masters include long driving Bryson DeChambeau, who had a good chance at the green jacket last year, defender Rory McIlroy and the previously mentioned major specialist Brooks Koepka, who has no less than five major titles under his belt a long with three top 10's at The Masters.
However, Augusta is a place where the unexpected always seems happen. New players will burst into bloom. Old stars will fall. And new stories will be told.