Five Australasians tackle golf’s favourite event
Min Woo Lee – leading Australasian-ranked player in the field – image Augusta National
There is always plenty of commentary as to which of golf’s four majors is the most popular amongst the golfing world, but in any sort of poll to determine such, The Masters would always rate near the top, if not on top.
That it is the only major played at the same venue each year has allowed us to gain an intimate knowledge of the dangers lurking in the heat of a Sunday battle, holes like 11,12, 13, 15 and 16 highlighting that a lead is never safe and, as viewers, we can sit and watch the drama unfold.
The familiarity of a layout in which there is such a fine line between pleasure and pain captures the imagination of all, and while in more recent times all 18 holes are now part of the coverage, the closing nine holes on Sunday are those closest to us and must surely be the most anticipated and watched in televised golf.
There are numerous opportunities to make up a deficit in the latter stages of the event, but there is also danger at nearly every corner, and perhaps the unpredictability is what makes it so appealing.
In 2026, there are two favourites on paper at least, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the winners of three of the last four Masters titles, but with the likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson De Chambeau, Xander Schauffle and Ludvig Aberg, amongst others, likely to stake their claim, then the winner may be obvious to many but still very uncertain.
The Masters is a bit like the Melbourne Cup in that for one week of the year, many non-golfers become experts in predicting a potential winner, further highlighting the appeal the 90th staging of the event holds.
Four Australians and one New Zealander get their chance to add a second title to come to this part of the world, Adam Scott’s win in 2013 completing Australian success in all four major championships.
This year, Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Adam Scott, and Cam Smith will be joined by New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, all five having now played the Masters on several occasions.
Min Woo Lee gets the honour of being Australia’s leading-ranked player in the event as he competes for the fifth occasion, his best finish coming on debut when 14th in 2022. He has made two of the other three cuts and arrives in good form with a 3rd place finish two weeks ago in Houston, when defending his title, and a 6th place finish two starts earlier at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
At number 25 in the world ranking, Lee appears to have the current form and Augusta National experience necessary to make his presence felt this week.
“My game is looking really good,” said Lee on Tuesday. “Feeling good. The ball was going where I wanted it to, which is great. And, yeah, I mean, the mini driver is probably going to be a big factor this week. Just hitting draws off the tee.
“And it’s a little different wind than we usually play, what I played in the last few years. So really like this wind.
Jason Day – on the range this week – image Augusta National
Jason Day finished runner-up on debut at the Masters in 2011, run down only by a barnstorming finish by Charles Schwartzel. Two years later, he finished 3rd behind Scott, and there have been two other top tens, including when 8th last year.
Day began this year with a runner-up finish at the American Express tournament, and while his follow-up form has been somewhat mixed, he did finish 6th in Houston at his last start to suggest he is not far from where he needs to be in order to produce another top ten.
“Yeah, game was solid,” said Day after finishing a practice round with Min Woo Lee. “Just had a nice practice round with Min Woo and Johnny Keefer out this morning on the back side. I’ve been here since last Friday. I got in last Friday, walked around Saturday and Sunday, both back and front, just trying to get used to some of the old feelings that you get around here.
Just positional-wise, where you need to hit it off certain tee locations and obviously into the greens, as well, just trying to make sure the short game is nice and sharp and getting used to the speeds of the greens.
Day was also asked his thoughts on the Tiger Woods situation and endeared himself to those present with his whole-hearted support for the three-time champion at Augusta.
“I think the biggest thing is just to make sure that the friendship is still there. People out here do support him and want him to kind of get through this.
“It is tough. I’ve never dealt with an addiction before, other than golf. I’m pretty addicted to that. But it must be tough to be isolated the way he is normally. He stays at home pretty much most of the time, doesn’t really get out too much just because of how popular he is as a person, and then when you’re at home, it’s just difficult. Sometimes you don’t have people around, loving people around enough to be able to steer you in the direction that you need to.
“Like I said before, he’s human, and we all make mistakes. That’s just part of learning and getting better, and I’m hoping that he gets the help that he needs and that he comes out stronger and better on the other side because, like golf misses him. We miss him here this week.
“It’s always better when he’s playing golf tournaments because we love having him around, so it’s a little bit sad to not have him here this week.”
Adam Scott practising this week – image Augusta National
Adam Scott’s missed cut last year was just the third in 24 starts at Augusta National, and while there have not been a lot of top tens, his historic win in 2013 highlights his comfort zone with the layout and the special memories the event brings.
Scott has played some very nice golf in 2026, not missing a cut and finishing 4th at Riviera. I can see him finishing inside the top 20, but not sure about his chances of contending.
Cam Smith – with caddie Sam Pinfold this week – image Augusta National
Cam Smith arrives at Augusta with a very good record in the event before heading to the LIV Golf League in 2022. He has played solidly, although unspectacularly, in 2026 in LIV events, which are always hard to line up against PGA Tour events, but his record at Augusta National is quite outstanding.
Smith has five top tens in nine starts, including when runner-up behind Dustin Johnson in 2020 and 3rd behind Scheffler in 2022, so his liking for the layout where his short game skills have proven so valuable is clear.
“I think the course is in great shape, and it’s already pretty firm,” said Smith. “It seems like the grass is really full. It’s always in good condition here, but it seems like there’s just a little bit more grass. It’s a little bit fuller, and there’s no rain in the forecast. They can really do whatever they want, I feel like. It will be firm and fast, I would assume.”
When asked as to how his experience here would be used this week, Smith added, “I think just be smart, and then you’ve obviously got to play good golf. I think it’s a place where if you’re playing really good, you can be super aggressive. If you’re not playing so good, you have to play really smart and kind of get to the positions where you can get it up-and-down. It’s the same for everyone, though. Everyone has got to do the same thing.
Ryan Fox – in practice on Tuesday – image Augusta National
Ryan Fox was running into some very nice form, making every cut in 2026 and finishing a very tidy 7th at the Genesis event before being struck down with kidney stones during the week of the Players Championship.
Fox returned from hospital to miss the cut at the Houston Open two weeks ago, so his preparedness for an event of this nature is a bit hard to judge right now.
“It’s close,” said Fox, referring to his form. “I wanted to come back and play Houston. The body wasn’t probably in great shape, but I didn’t want four weeks off before this week, so I have been working really hard to find it again. “I hope I can come out on Thursday and get the competitive juices flowing again, along with the excitement of playing the Masters. I feel like I am a couple of good shots away from playing well in a tournament.”
Despite his medical issues, Fox feels he and his game are in good shape, and with two Masters tournaments behind him, he is keen to take advantage of what he has learned on a golf course that requires familiarity to succeed.
