To think that it is November and the third and final major will be getting underway on Thursday. Having lost the Open Championship from the rota, the US Masters is usually the first, but in this strange year it is the final major.

Played at the stunning Augusta National, is the only one of the four major championships played at the same venue.

Par 72 with the course ideal for big hitters

The course is a par 72 and is a very long course, ideal for big hitters.  Augusta plays even longer than its yardage as the fairways are all cut in the same direction.

It will seem strange for this wonderful event to be played with no fans in attendance.

Can Tiger make it six wins at Augusta

Tiger Woods won the US Masters for a fifth time last year but comes into the tournament in bad form. The last four and 14 of the last 19 major championships have gone to a first-time major winner.

Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods are the only players to win the US Masters back-to-back.

DJ looking a very strong challenger

Having missed a couple of weeks due to a positive Covid-19 test, World Number One Dustin Johnson looks a strong challenger. DJ played last weeks Houston Open and finished second.

His record at Augusta reads 6-3-10 and 2^nd.  His current form is outstanding having finished 2^nd,1^st,2^nd,1^st,6^th and 2^nd in his last six tournaments.

World Number Two Jon Rahm has won two of his last nine events, with a highest finish at Augusta of fourth place.

McIlroy struggling with form at the moment

Rory McIlroy is making his 12^th appearance at Augusta and is attempting to complete the major slam. He comes into Thursday’s tournament struggling for form. His last win in any tournament was back in June and has had only two top ten finishes from 12 starts.

American Justin Thomas won the Fed Ex St Jude Invitational back in August. The likeable Thomas has also been in contention in other events played recently.

Schauffele looking to win after a gap of two years

Xander Schauffele finished second behind Woods last year and arrives in decent form. He has had top ten finishes in all four championships but hasn’t won for almost two years.

Brooks Koepka shot back to back 65’s at the Houston Open, returning after hip and knee injuries have bugged him all season. Koepka is the man who relishes the big occasion having won two US Open and two US PGA Championships already.

British hope Hatton moves into top ten

Tyrell Hatton has already won the Arnold Palmer Invitation back in March. The Englishman has also won the BMW PGA Championship and is now in the worlds top ten.

Unfortunately for Hatton he has a shocking record in this tournament after missing the cut once and finishing 44 and 56^th.

The formidable Bryson De Chambeau is the bookies favourite heading into the tournament. A player who can drive a ball a very long way and is a useful putter as well.

Bubba loves Augusta, any time of the year

Bubba Watson loves Augusta. The American has already won the prized green jacket twice and is slowly recapturing his best form for a while.

Whoever gets to try on the coveted green jacket on Sunday will have deserved to win it. Just a shame that there will be no fans to witness this historic tournament, and no noisy fans shouting “in the hole”.