Day 2 Masters roundtable: Our 36-hole picks to win the green jacket

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Anybody excited yet? It’s been a terrific first two days at the Masters, and the weekend promises even more fireworks with so many notables in contention. PGATOUR.COM’s writers tackle some of the big questions percolating after Friday at Augusta National.

Halfway done, and huge names top the leaderboard. Your 36-hole pick for the green jacket?

BEN EVERILL (Staff Writer): Jason Day. Beware the injured golfer they say. This guy has been destined for a green jacket many times and swinging within himself a little has him doing well. He remembers letting one slip in 2013 and will atone.

SEAN MARTIN (Senior Editor): I like Dustin Johnson. He was overshadowed by the leaders and Tiger, but he sits just one shot back. Augusta National and TPC Sawgrass were two courses that used to confound Johnson. He just posted his career-best finish at THE PLAYERS. I think he’ll do the same at Augusta National and walk away with the green jacket.

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MIKE McALLISTER (Managing Editor): The last time a South African won the Masters was 2011. I remember all kinds of chaos on the leaderboard that final day, but ultimately it was Charl Schwartzel’s 66 that got the job done. Wouldn’t surprise me if steady Louis Oosthuizen wins his second major in similar fashion.

CAMERON MORFIT (Staff Writer): I picked Francesco Molinari before the tournament, and I'll stick with him. He's been so steady in all facets, is not the same guy over the last 12 months, and is totally fearless.

Has the Augusta magic officially returned for Tiger?

EVERILL: Of course! Nothing like a Tiger roar at Augusta. You just know he is going to be like Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer… popping up on the board every year. But before that he could be Jack Nicklaus…winning in his 40s.

MARTIN: Yes. There were fist pumps and roars. No one can set Augusta National aflame as quickly as Woods. And I can’t wait to get the press release announcing Tiger’s gum endorsement deal.

McALLISTER: It smacks of his usual Friday move into contention, but I’m still reserving judgment on whether Tiger’s ready to climb into a fifth green jacket. Gotta clean up those shortish putts.

MORFIT: All those fist pumps? Vintage. The roars? Vintage. The gum? OK, maybe the gum isn't vintage Tiger, but the rest of it does look awfully familiar.

Any non-major winner we should keep an eye on?

EVERILL: Ian Poulter. Of those making the cut, he has the most major starts without a victory. He has the passion, he has the game.

MARTIN: Xander Schauffele. He already has built a strong resume in the majors, posting top-6 finishes in majors over the past two seasons. A win could be next. He gained valuable experience from challenging for the Claret Jug at Carnoustie.

McALLISTER: If it’s a first-time major winner on Sunday, Rahm’s the most likely choice. Each round, it just seems like he gains more and more knowledge about how to maneuver his way around Augusta National. He can hang with anybody.

MORFIT: I'm going to take Jon Rahm, who is lingering just a few shots back, which is basically nothing with 36 holes and some weather ahead.

FedExCup champ/World No. 1 Justin Rose misses the cut. What’s with that?

EVERILL: We have all had those days where we just didn’t have it. Where no matter how hard we try at whatever it is we do best, things just go from bad to worse. It was just one of those weeks for the FedExCup champion. But he will bounce back.

MARTIN: Golf is hard. That’s all there is to it. He hit only 20 greens after finishing T2 in greens hit in each of the past four Masters. He also hit less than half of his fairways.

McALLISTER: 59 putts in two days, including a couple of three-putts in the opening round. Rose didn’t have a crippling double, but he suffered 11 bogeys – a shocker for the guy who ranks sixth on the PGA TOUR this season in bogey avoidance. Nobody could see it coming, but Augusta National can get anybody out of sorts quickly.

MORFIT: He suffered from a similar affliction to what hit Paul Casey, namely every golf expert and their dog saying he was a great pick to win the Masters. That has to be a drag, even though these guys are semi-used to it.