Niall Lyons shares his first round leader tips for the Masters 2023 and his prediction for the top LIV player.
The Masters First Round Leader - Winner
The weather plays a huge part in determining the outcome of first-round leader but after all the build-up and doom surrounding the impending poor forecast, the one day of the week that looks relatively calm throughout is Thursday.
There is little in the way of difference between the early and late starters and the big question will be whether the greens cut up a little for the afternoon groups and how much that will impact scores.
The counterargument may be that warmer temperatures in the afternoon and early evening will contribute to the course playing slightly shorter. Either way, I think there is little in it and either section of the Thursday draw has the chance for the first-round lead.
Cameron Young at 33/1 (Five Places)
The winner of this usually starts well and sits inside the top 10 after round one. That means the market leaders must be considered but my preference is for Cameron Young who if he can manage a win here this week is most likely to be in the top two or three throughout the event.
Young has four runner up finishes since last July, one being the Open Championship and he narrowly escaped my outright staking plan simply because of the maiden tag that he is yet to shred.
Without doubt he can overcome that but the pressure may weigh heavy at the weekend. The soft conditions will suit and I think he is likely to go well early doors. In Rahm and Thomas, he has a marquee group and won't feel out of place in their company. He belongs with them and twice the price of Rahm looks a much better bet.
Talor Gooch at 80/1 (Five Places)
Whether a LIV golfer has the intensity banked recently in order to win this is up for debate but the round of the day is certainly within grasp for many of them and my pick of the bunch is Talor Gooch.
Gooch has long since had the talent to compete in major championships and 14th here on debut last year was a fine effort. Three top 20s on the trot on the LIV tour suggest he arrives here in solid enough form and he'll be looking to prove a point. He has a favourable draw with fellow LIV golfer Jason Kokrak and Sandy Lyle's last Masters ensures he fades into the background somewhat in this group.
The spotlight will be on the likes of Koepka, Dustin and Smith but Gooch was a surprise name who went skipped to that tour quite early in his career and he'll require a good finish here to secure his place in this event in 2024.
I don't think he can win, but I wouldn't surprised should he figure for a lot of the way. I certainly believe that Smith is vulnerable at the head of the Top LIV Player market and with Gooch's finish here last year the 22/1 out there looks worthy of a bet also.
0.75pt each-way T.Gooch 1st round leader 80/1 (1/4 5) Unibet, Spreadex
0.75pt each-way T.Gooch Top LIV Player 22/1 (1/4 3) Spreadex
Adam Svensson at 100/1 (Eight Places)
Another worth siding with is Canadian Adam Svensson. His iron play has been extremely impressive of late and looks like one of the debutants who could really take to the challenge. In the last eight months Svensson has fired two rounds of 62 so is clearly capable of going low on any single day. He led the field at halfway in the Players Championship only to feel the pressure in the final couple of days.
Like Min Woo Lee he could improve for that experience and with one of those 62s being in this state (RSM Classic) he could fire in a repeat performance and shoot a five or six under-par round to challenge for the round one lead.
0.75pt each-way A.Svensson 1st round leader 100/1 (1/5 8) PaddyPower
