No disrespect to Mr. Hoffman and the ongoing Texas Open, but it’s officially Masters week. The 2024 Masters has the potential to be a fascinating tournament, perhaps even more than normal years thanks to the variety of storylines coming into play. From the course setup at Augusta to the fact that it’s one of the only times all of the world’s best tee it up together now to the fact that Tiger Woods is playing, it promises to be a special week.

We were fortunate to once again talk to CBS Sports lead analyst and 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman about all things Augusta National heading into the first major week of the year. Trevor and Andy each broke down five things they’re watching heading into the tournament. They covered everything from how LIV Golf players will perform to what to how the weather might impact the conditions for Masters week.

You can watch the whole thing on YouTube or listen on Apple or Spotify (or your podcast player of choice.) You can also find all of Fried Egg Golf’s Masters coverage here.

Five Key Quotes

On players who haven’t won:

“You think of legends of the game that haven’t won at Augusta. You know, Weiskopf, Trevino, Ernie, Rory. You know, it feels like those players absolutely should have been able to win the Masters. But it’s one of the million threads of this tournament that just makes it so great. Norman is another one that’s just jumped in my mind. You have the amazing stories of the Palmers and the Mickelsons and the Woods and the Sevys, the players that were expected to win and won multiple times. Jack, obviously, I mean, that goes without saying.

“But then you have these other legends that didn’t ever find a way to unlock that something around there. And like I say, it’s just one of the many things that makes this tournament great.”

On why the weather is more than just small talk this week, and how conditions shape play at Augusta in subtle ways:

“But you know, you start to get the feel on approach shots when the greens, you know, they have phases of firmness. The last few years, like you say, it’s been pretty green. And they can go a little yellowy, a little purple at times when it starts getting really firm, and you know there’s a bunch of approach shots you’ve got to be really careful with. Starting right at No. 1, which is the highest point on the golf course. That green, if it’s firm and fast, gets baked out and it is one of the most intricate and complex greens on the whole golf course.

“I mean the areas that you have to play with there are tiny because of that false front and that funnel in the front of the green. 5 is another one that gets really firm. You start getting back right hole locations at 6 that you’re just wondering how on earth am I going to stop the ball up on that little plateau. 7 hitting uphill as well. That ball is bouncing as high as the flag. And you’ve only got like 11 yards of depth to work with, so you’re in a panic over that second shot, hitting off of a down slope. You know, there’s lots of areas where you gotta be real careful. And that’s what I’m really hoping for and looking forward to, because that’s when you need supreme control over spin and trajectory.”

On why the grand slam for Rory McIlroy would give him the nod over Brooks Koepka in terms of career achievement:

“Okay so tenth time, tenth go at trying to complete the grand slam. You’ve got this Rory and Brooks rivalry of who’s the best player of this generation. If Rory goes ahead and wins the Masters, completes the grand slam, it gives him that slight edge over Brooks because wow, that is the most elite list in golf. I mean in golfing history for Rory to be only the sixth guy to do that. I mean that is like, that’s rarefied air right there, and it’s so interesting to see how he goes about it. It’s not like he’s played badly. He’s had seven top tens in the last ten years at the Masters, so he’s had a few opportunities there and there.”

On Scottie Scheffler, and the danger of Tiger comparisons:

“Yeah, if he putts average generally it’s over. That’s all he needs is to not lose strokes. The putt on 18 on Sunday (at the Houston Open) bothered me too.

“I know there’s a lot of pressure and that he’s running on high confidence right now, but he’s supposed to make that putt. And when people throw these comparisons with the Tiger-like run, Tiger-like ball-striking, let me tell you what Tiger would have done: he would have buried that putt, he would have been dancing around the green, giving uppercut fist pumps, and then he would have birdied the first playoff hole to win the Houston Open.

“So it’s always tricky when you make these comparisons because we want to see another Tiger so badly because we had so much fun. Well, I was getting my brains beat in by him, but as golf fans, it was so much fun watching this extraordinary athlete.”

On Wyndham Clark being a first-timer at Augusta, and how his big right miss could hurt him at the Masters:

“But that’s the one thing that is my concern with Wyndham Clark at Augusta National. Because there’s a few times during the round he’s going to need to at the very least have a straight drive, whereas even though he bombs it a mile he puts quite a lot of curve from left to right on it with the driver. So there’s a few times I’m thinking of 2, I’m thinking of 9, I’m thinking of 13, I’m thinking of 14. Where if the ball starts to leak to the right, he’s not gonna have much space.

“Yeah, but 10, he can just rope the three-wood, or even a driving iron for as far as he hits the ball. So 10 is like a specialty shot. It’s almost like when you’re behind a tree and you know you’ve got to hit a 20-yard hook. That tee shot is like a specialty shot. Guys generally find a way to pull it off.

“But some of those others that are a bit more subtle that I mentioned he’s gonna have to be careful not to run out down the right-hand side and get himself into some trouble. But he has proved to us he is not scared. He’s got the guts. He has a ton of self-belief. His mental game is as good as anybody’s out there right now.

“It’s wonderful to watch how quickly he bounces back mentally from bad shots and gets on with it. He’s gonna be an interesting one to watch there being a first-timer.”

Thanks to Trevor for his time and insight. The Masters starts Thursday morning with online coverage of featured holes and groups, followed by the ESPN broadcast window at 3 PM Eastern.