Masters 2020: Our 5 Picks & R1/R2 Tee-Times

The wait is finally over as Augusta National gets ready to host the world's best golfers at the 84th edition of the Masters.

The most iconic event in golf takes place in November for the first time ever, with April's vibrant blooming azaleas stepping back from their usual centre stage - now the dogwoods, pines and maples trees, with their beautiful autumnal colours, are firmly front and centre.

To help build up to what promises to be four days of great golf - unlike any we have seen before - check out our five separate picks for the 2020 Masters...in reverse order (just to add a little bit of drama).

Tee times are GMT - check out a full list of the tee times here.

5) Matthew Wolff

Thu: 16:27  & Fri: 12.22 with Bubba Watson (US), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)

A maverick talent with an unorthodox swing, Matt Wolff has shone on the big stage with two top-five spots in his first two major championships. His second placed finish at Winged Foot behind Bryson DeChambeau has been the standout performance of a short professional career to date - that alongside his solitary PGA Tour win at the 3M Open in 2019.

He's a golfer in the Morikawa mould: mature, experienced in high-profile events, bursting with golfing talent at such a young age and seemingly primed to win a first major - just as his compatriot managed earlier this year.

With that said, Matt will need to hold it together on Masters Sunday a little better than he managed during the final round of the U.S. Open (75) if he is to grab his first major title this week.

4) Rory McIlroy

Thu: 17:00 & Fri: 12:55 with Dustin Johnson (US), Patrick Cantlay (US)

Pre-Masters chatter usually centres around Rory McIlroy's quest for the final leg of his career grand slam, and 2020 has been no different in that respect. Having checked off the other three major titles over 5 years ago, the Northern Irishman would be forgiven for getting just a little bored of fielding the same question every time he takes a trip up Magnolia Lane.

Though he's without a win this year, it would be foolish to underestimate a golfer of Rory's calibre - and length. His long game looked sharp at the Zozo Championship and, if he can keep the ball in play, he may be one of only a few golfers who can reach the par-5s in two.

A place in golfing immortality awaits if he can get over the line at this week's event. Catch his pre-Masters 2020 presser below.

3) Justin Thomas

Thu: 16:49 & Fri: 12:44 with Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Brooks Koepka (US)

Justin Thomas has become established as one of the best ball strikers in the game and his iron-play, in particular, is an undoubted strength. Evidence lies in his strokes gained on approach stats over the past three years: 4th in 2018, 2nd in 2019 and 1st in 2020.

Three years have now passed since his solitary major win - the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow - but the play in recent months has suggested another tournament-winning performance is just around the corner.

A hole-in-one - like this one last year at the 16th - will do him no harm.

2) Xander Schauffele

Thu: 12:44 & Fri: 16:49 with Jason Kokrak (US), Henrik Stenson (Swe)

A T-2 at last year's Masters tells you all you need to know about Xander Schauffele's chances this week. Of course, it's rarely as easy as that. Golfers can go off the boil in the intervening 12 months (or 19 months) between Masters tournaments, however that's not a worry for Xander.

He was a 72-hole winner of the Tour Championship back in September, and this was followed up by a T-5 at Winged Foot and a runner-up spot at the CJ Cup. The game is in good shape, and if it wasn't for the unavoidable fact that (spoiler alert) Bryson DeChambeau has taken his golf to a whole new level, we'd be all-in for Xander this week.

1) Bryson DeChambeau

Thu: 12:33 & Fri: 16:38 Jon Rahm (Spa), Bryson DeChambeau (US), Louis Oosthuizen (SA)

You may love him, you may loathe him, but what's undeniable is the fact that Bryson DeChambeau continues to shake up men's professional golf - and for that, we tip our proverbial hat to the current world number six.

Bryson has made only one appearance since his U.S. Open win at Winged Foot, and, although he admitted recently that he never plays at a golf course outside tournament play, he's been thwacking golf balls at the range in his never-ending quest for more distance off the tee.

And there's the possibility of even more distance, now that he's considering putting a 48" driver in the bag. The Masters may have come a little too early to properly test it out, but he remains undecided on which driver shaft length to opt for. Time will tell.

Could he be in trouble if he loses control of the ball? For sure. Augusta National can be merciless if a player gets out of position. However, could it prove a Green Jacket-winning advantage if he continues to demonstrate surprising accuracy given his length? Without doubt.

Regardless, it will all come down to the short game. If he can hold his chipping and putting together then he has a great chance.

The pre-tournament favourite talks to the media about his increased distance, mind-blowing approach shot club selections, and that 48" driver below.

OK. We admit it. It's perhaps a little boringly predictable to go with the obvious guy as our top pick. Now it's your chance to tell us who you're all over this week at Augusta National in the comments below.