After many pleas from subscribers, Sandy Lane has reconnected his email system and sends us this message from his deck chair on the beach.
With my data sheets in hand, my lucky divot spike in my pocket and the rest of Magnolia Lane to stroll down, it's time for the year's first Major at the magnificent Augusta, Georgia golf course. Do please note that bets must be placed by 12.40pm BST on Thursday.
Where to start? One statistic stands out like a beacon: each of the last 15 winners was in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings at the time of their victory. Currently, Scottie Scheffler sits at #1. As the tournament winner in both 2022 and 2024, he is, understandably, a warm order in the market, yet he has not impressed so far this season. Rory McIlroy (#2) on the other hand, has been on fire, winning 2 tournaments and looking imperious in The Players at Sawgrass. But Rory's last Major victory came in 2014 and the pressure he will be under to complete a career Grand Slam will be brutal.
Onwards and upwards then to Sandy Lane's Magnificent Seven selections:
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