Masters Preview: What the Experts Have to Say About Max Homa & Collin Morikawa

Morikawa takes aim at his third major title; fellow Cal grad Homa seeking his first.

Can Collin Morikawa win a third different golf major and claim his first victory at any event in 20 months at the 87th Masters?

Is Max Homa ready to add a major victory to a recent run of success that has elevated him to a No. 5 world ranking?

Will World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler become just fourth golfer in history win consecutive titles at Augusta National?

There are a lot of plot lines this week, with action getting started on Thursday in what many fans consider the sport’s premier event.

Both Cal alums are now regarded among golf’s elite players. Homa has six career victories, two in each of the past two seasons, but has not fared well in the four majors — the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA and (British) Open Championships.

Homa, 32, will play the Masters for the fourth time, having finished in a tie for 48th place last years after missing the cut in 2020 and ’21. His only top-40 finish in any major came at the 2022 PGA, where he tied for 13th.

Morikawa, 26, hasn’t won anywhere since a victory at the 2020 Open Championships, but has been a consistent contender at the majors. The world's 12th-ranked player has made the cut at all three Masters he’s played and finished fifth a year ago. Including his wins at the 2020 PGA and ’21 Open, Morikawa has six top-10 finishes in the majors.

Tee times for Cal’s two entries

Thursday:

• 10:24 a.m. PT -- Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris
• 10:36 a.m. PT -- Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Sam Bennett

Friday:

• 7:18 a.m. PT -- Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris
• 7:30 a.m. PT -- Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Sam Bennett

Tournament odds (per Caesars Sportsbook)

Scottie Scheffler 5 to 1

Rory McIloy 13 to 2

Jon Rahm 17 to 2

Collin Morikawa 25 to 1

Max Homa 30 to 1

— The experts weigh in here on Homa:

Brentley Romine, Golf Channel: While ranking all 88 entries, has Homa as the 19th-best player in the field: “He’s been hot this year with a win and four other top-10s, and he’s coming off his first Masters made cut in three tries last year. That said, he’ll need to figure out the first eight holes as he’s 19 over on those in eight rounds compared to even par on Nos. 9-18.”

Golf Digest: “Fan favorite Max Homa is now a top-five player in the world. Homa hasn’t done much of anything at a major, but his calm but intense demeanor, plus a well-rounded game, should be a match at Augusta National, despite the fact we haven’t seen it yet.”

Joel Beall, Golf Digest: Beall has Homa at No. 11. “No, the Players Championship is not a major, but it’s the closest environment to one on the tour schedule. That Homa finished T-6 after a solid weekend run is worth noting, for the only thing missing on Homa’s résumé is contending at one of the sport’s big four events. The past 18 months have shown Homa is one of the game’s best. To cement that stature, he needs to get it done on a week like this, and we think he will.”

Kyle Porter, CBS Sports: In his rankings of players in the field, Porter has Homa at No. 13: “It's time for Homa to make the major championship leap this year. He's been arguably one of the five best players in the world in 2023, but his major record doesn't (yet) prove that he's in this caliber of golfer.”

Kyle Porter on Max Homa / CBS Sports

Patrick McDonald, CBS Sports: Homa was his choice for a star player who definitely won’t win. “I know, I know, the metrics look great, his play in major championships is slowly improving and everyone loves him. I just need to see more from him on this stage, especially at Augusta National, to have faith in him on the final nine come Sunday. In three appearances at the Masters, Homa has missed the cut twice with his best finish coming last season with a T48. Each of the last 10 Masters winners had at least a top-40 finish to their name with seven of them having a top-five finish. So, while he may even contend, don't look for Homa to slip on the green jacket."

Adam Silverstein, editorial director, CBS Sports: Homa is Silverstein’s “sleeper” pick to win it. “The deal with Homa is that his odds are strong entering the Masters — he’s tied as the eighth-highest favorite in the field — but everyone is doubting that he will succeed this week with many predicting he may even miss the cut. Why? Simply because that's what normally happens to him at majors. His best result is a T13 at the 2022 PGA Championship. Other than that, he has missed cuts in seven majors and finished worse than the top 40 in five. His Masters history since 2020 is two missed cuts and a T48 finish last year. If that's not a sleeper, I'm not sure what would be. Homa is playing some of the best golf on the PGA Tour (three wins in the last 11 months), and he's improved both around the green and with the flat stick.”

Joshua Mullenix, First Cut producer, CBS Sports: Following the lead of McDonald, Mullenix says Homa is the star player who definitely won’t win.

“He has played in 13 major championships and missed the cut in eight of them. Two of those came at Augusta, along with a T48. Homa is crawling out from under the `doesn't perform on big stages’ tag, but not to the extent that I would pick him this week. The numbers are tempting, but Homa doesn't have the major or Masters success I want to see in a potential champion.”

Collin Morikawa enjoys his wife Kat helping out as his practice-round caddie / Photo by Rob Schumacher, USA Today

— And here’s what they have to say about Morikawa:

Brentley Romine, Golf Channel: In his rankings of the 88 entries, Romine puts Morikawa at No. 8. “His approach game (second on Tour) is going to eventually get him a green jacket, but will it be this year? He’s perfect in making cuts in three Masters starts, and he notched his best finish a year ago, placing fifth. His four top-5s in the last six majors is one better than Rory McIlroy. The only concern is recent form as he boasts just one top-10 in his last five starts.”

Golf Digest: “Collin Morikawa, who has improved in all three of his previous Masters appearances, including a fifth-place finish this year. His season has been so up and down—with close calls at Kapalua and Torrey Pines. The two-time major champion is also looking for his first victory since his Open Championship in 2021, a fact that can't be overlooked.”

Joel Beall, Golf Digest: “We’re a Masters title away from Morikawa being on an all-time trajectory … and he’s what, the 10th, 11th biggest storyline entering the week? The California native played well last year en route to a fifth-place finish, and his game is in damn fine shape. This is a ball-striker’s paradise, and Morikawa is your favorite ball-striker’s favorite ball-striker.”

Kyle Porter, CBS Sports: Porter has Morikawa at No. 4 in his rankings of the Masters field. “I’m probably higher on Morikawa than most. He is absolutely flushing the golf ball right now, even for him. Since Jan. 1, he's averaging 1.22 strokes gained per round on approach shots, which is slightly better than Scheffler. Coming in way too far under the radar.”

Kyle Porter on Collin Morikawa / CBS Sports

Cover photo of Max Homa by Katie Goodale, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo