Skip to content

Biggest losers from a postponed Masters

Icon Sportswire / Getty

There's no question that everyone loses with no Masters Tournament in April for the first time since 1945. That said, some players who looked poised to truly contend at Augusta National before golf was put on hold will feel the effects of a postponed tournament more than others.

Here are the five biggest losers from the decision to postpone the Masters until November:

Rory McIlroy

Keyur Khamar / PGA TOUR / Getty

Rory McIlroy would have entered the Masters as the betting favorite, with immense pressure on him to finally secure the career grand slam. In a similar position last year, he came up well short in his fifth attempt to complete the slam. But with McIlroy ranked as the No. 1 player in the world, 2020 felt different.

Given the struggles of other top players such as Brooks Koepka, Tiger Woods, and Dustin Johnson, along with McIlroy's consistently elite play so far this year, the Northern Irishman is missing out on a perfect opportunity to claim the elusive green jacket - one he may never get again.

Bryson DeChambeau

Hector Vivas / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Bryson DeChambeau is one of the streakiest players in golf, typically rattling off one top-tier result after another before stumbling through a string of poor finishes as he starts tinkering with his game. At the time of the break, DeChambeau had chalked up three straight top-five finishes at premier events on the Tour schedule.

But instead of heading to Augusta on a high, the first-round leader at last year's Masters will be unable to capitalize on what would have been the best opportunity of his career so far. DeChambeau is only 26 and should have plenty of chances to win a green jacket in the future, but the stars may never align as they did in 2020.

Adam Scott

Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Adam Scott would have been one of the favorites to claim the green jacket this week given his history at Augusta and recent run of stellar play. The Aussie climbed to No. 6 in the world ranking thanks to his win at the Genesis Invitational and was about to play his final Masters before turning 40.

Unfortunately, Scott won't get the chance to strike while the iron's hot. Who knows where his form will be in November? This break couldn't have come at a worse time for a golfer entering the twilight of his career.

Webb Simpson

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Webb Simpson was playing some of the best golf of his life before the PGA Tour announced an indefinite break. The 34-year-old was racking up top-10 results and had already found the winner's circle this season. He finished tied for fifth at the Masters last year and appeared poised to improve upon his career-best result this week.

Lee Westwood

Francois Nel / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Perhaps the biggest loser of them all, Lee Westwood could have viewed the 2020 Masters as his final chance to win his first major championship. The 46-year-old rediscovered his game over the last two years with two European Tour wins, and he was primed to contend in April after recording six top-10s and two runner-ups at Augusta over the course of his career.

But Westwood's recent resurgence could be for nothing if he's forced to sit on the sidelines for the remainder of the year. As the clock winds down on his fantastic career, the Englishman may someday look back at 2020 and wonder "what if" while he's sipping wine as a retiree.

MORE STORIES

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox