Tuesday 14 April 2015 13:47, UK
Kirsty Gallacher explains why she expected Jordan Spieth to contend at the Masters, why he is good for the game, and how One Direction's Niall Horan fell for her.
I tipped Jordan Spieth for the Masters because, like a lot of people, I’ve watched him closely over the last couple of years and I was very impressed with him when he won his first tournament at the John Deere Classic in 2013.
His attitude and his approach to the game have always stood out, and for me he’s had that star quality about him. That was evident with his outstanding wins at the Australian Open last year and when he blew away a world-class field at Tiger’s tournament.
He won the Valspar earlier this year and he’s had a couple of second places as well, so with his form coming into the Masters coupled with his experience here last year, I just felt Spieth would be the man to beat this week.
He is so good for the game as well. Spieth is one of a number of emerging youngsters who have the ability to light up the place. I interviewed him at the par-three contest, and he’s really good to speak to.
All-round package
Spieth is honest, concise, I like his mental attitude and obviously he has a pretty good golf game! He’s a great all-round package, somebody that we all enjoy watching, and that can only be good for golf.
He’s also got the game for Augusta. You’ve got to be a good putter here, and as Dave Stockton told me earlier, Spieth is one of the best putters in the world right now.
It’s so good to see Spieth and the other young players coming through. It’s inspiring for the younger generation of golf fans and helps move the game forward.
There are also the likes of Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson to keep it fresh. Day always plays well in the majors and seems like an all-round good guy, and Johnson has been fantastic since returning from his six-month lay-off.
More importantly, these guys are genuinely exciting to watch, so let's hope they continue to be so for many years to come and inspire more youngsters to come through.
Niall's slip-up
This is my fourth Masters now, and it’s been another fantastic experience. I feel like there’s a little more colour around Augusta this year, because last year the ice storm caused plenty of damage.
It seems more like the Augusta I remember watching on the TV when I was growing up. The weather has been great and the tournament has a more traditional feel to it this week.
The par-three contest was beautiful, that’s a stunning part of the land here. I was interviewing by the ninth hole when I had one of my highlights of the week. Poor Niall Horan, who was carrying the bag for Rory McIlroy, slipped on the pine straw as he got to me and toppled over.
I thought he handled it very well. It was obviously very funny and I know it has been well-watched on the Sky Sports digital platforms, but he was fine about it. He’s a nice guy, and it was great for the contest to have him involved.
Both Rory and Tiger turned out for it, there weren’t many players that opted out this year, the crowds were fantastic and it’s a lovely event which I was thrilled to be a part of.
It’s a great way to get people in the mood for the Masters proper.
Watch the weekend at the Masters live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
