The Masters: Why Matt Fitzpatrick’s scintillating game puts him among the favorites at Augusta

With Scheffler’s recent inconsistent form, by his very high standards, and McIlroy’s struggle to match the level of his golf this time last year, there is scope to look beyond the world’s best players for Augusta glory.

Fitzpatrick, now ranked sixth, undoubtedly falls into this category as do Scotland’s Robert McIntyre, who is fourth on the list, last year’s Masters qualifier Justin Rose and FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood.

But given the justified optimism that the famous green jacket might remain in UK hands, we would be foolish to ignore what also happened in the separate LIV tour.

Bryson DeChambeau will go into the Masters after winning the playoffs in his final two matches before this year’s opening tournament. The hard-hitting American beat Rahm on penalties in South Africa a week after his win in Singapore.

The switch from 54 to 72 holes has clearly been to the advantage of the LIV’s top players, as Rahm, the most recent winner in Hong Kong, has finished in the top two in all but one of the five tournaments so far.

Yes, there isn’t the same depth of field at LIV, but Data Golf, which calculates numbers from all rounds, places the Spaniard second only to Scheffler in its world rankings.

While Rahm has dropped his appeal against the DP World Tour’s sanctions, he remains embroiled in a standoff with the European circuit that threatens his future Ryder Cup appearances.

But the controversy doesn’t seem to be holding the 31-year-old Basque back, and he’s certainly one to keep an eye on when the Masters begins on April 9.

How tempting it would be if many of the other threats were his Ryder Cup teammates – McIlroy, Fleetwood, McIntyre or Rose as well as Ludwig Aberg. And, of course, Fitzpatrick – who has already put a stylish spin on his year by winning the Valspar.

“I want to make sure I’m ready when I get to Augusta,” Fitzpatrick said. “To be ready to play and to be ready on Thursday morning and to be in the best shape possible.”