AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The nerves of youth, the experience that comes with age. It has seemingly always been important to have a mixture of both at the Masters.
Augusta National presents such a test when the year's first major championship arrives. Masters Tournament winners typically need a bit of seasoning, a certain course initiation before becoming comfortable around the venerable venue.
And that is why we will not discount players such as Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Charley Hoffman, Paul Casey and Zach Johnson from winning here, despite all being in their 40s.
There are obviously outliers.