2019 MASTERS: A quick guide to the four Australians at Augusta National this week

Just four Australians in the field at The 2019 Masters; can Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman or Cameron Smith win the green jacket?

Like 2018, just four Australians are in the field for the first major of the year. Adam Scott, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith are once again the four Aussies who will carry our hopes off walking away with another (still feels good to say it) green jacket.

None of the Aussies have exactly been on fire over the last four months but they all have top-5s to their name at the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

They’ll need to draw on these memories over the first few rounds at The Masters on a golf course that may be playing a little longer due to a wet start to the week in Georgia.

Here is a quick rundown of the four Australians in the field, their last five finishes at Augusta and form over the past few months.

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JASON DAY
World ranking: 14
Last five Masters: T20, T28, T10, T22, T20
Round 1 and 2 grouping: Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day

After two top-5s in his first two Masters’, Jason Day has been consistently just out of contention on Sunday at Augusta since. And we’re really not sure if this year will be any different.

Hampered with a back injury last month, Day has struggled to find any form of late. The T8 at The PLAYERS nestled between his WD at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the more recent MC and winless outing at the WGC Match Play. Big doubts even in Day’s mind that he’ll be pain free this week.

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MARC LEISHMAN
World ranking: 20
Last five Masters: T4, CUT, CUT, T43, 9
Round 1 and 2 grouping: Charley Hoffman, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman

It feels like Marc Leishman’s form at the Masters has been better than what his finishes suggest but he has missed the cut in two of his last five appearances. But that top-10 finish last year with a poor (73) third round that should give him confidence. Eventually finishing seven strokes behind Reed.

We were bullish about Leishman’s chances after starting the year on fire but his form has cooled a little with a T23 his best finish in last three stroke play events. Leishman’s game looked strong at the WGC Match Play. Leishman needs a strong first round to draw on the confidence of good memories at Augusta.

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CAMERON SMITH
World ranking: 28
Last five Masters: T55, T5
Round 1 and 2 grouping: Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith arrives at Augusta National with some suggesting he is Australia’s best chance this year. A final round 66 last year saw Cameron Smith sneak into the top-5 and got Aussie golf fans wondering if he will be the next to win the green jacket.

A wet, longer Augusta may suit Cameron Smith who can carry the ball a long way. The marquee grouping will also help as Smith loves the big stage, but he isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders. Smith was knocked out in the group stages of the WGC Match Play, finished T56 at The PLAYERS and missed the cut at the Honda Classic. It’s clear he can go low at Augusta. Just needs to do it before Sunday this year.

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ADAM SCOTT
World ranking: 29
Last five Masters: T14, T38, T42, T9, T32
Round 1 and 2 grouping: Hideki Matsuyama, Kyle Stanley, Adam Scott

Since breaking Australia’s drought at The Masters Scott’s form at Augusta has been patchy, seemingly struggling to work out how best to approach the first major of the year.

Scott’s recent form has been all over the place too. And because the 2013 Masters champion plays so infrequently it’s hard to get a gauge on his game. In six tournaments this year, Scott has chalked up two missed cuts, a T61, a T12 and two top-10s.

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