This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

The question in this blog headline is on many of our minds as we anticipate one of the best, if not the best, tournaments of the year, The Masters’.

Some fans may say, or hope, that Tiger Woods could prevail because he has said he intends to play even though he also says he has not fully recovered from a horrendous auto accident a year ago that nearly robbed him of the ability to walk, much less to play golf.

Golf Week Magazine showed up this week with a list of “sleepers” who could have a chance to win.  The list included:

• Shane Lowry, who has a solid short game, enough to win “The Open” (the British Open a couple years ago)

• Tommy Fleetwood, who has knocked on the winning door, but come up short

• Tyrell Hatton, who makes most of his headlines for the anger he shows on the golf course, though he also is a good player (for me, not fun to watch)

• Bubba Watson, who has won the Masters’ twice and always shows up ready to play at his favorite tournament of the year, including when he helps with the “Drive, Chip and Putt” event for budding golfers

• Jon Rahm, who just was replaced in the top ranking spot by…the next player on this list

• Scottie Scheffler, who has become one of my favorite golfers based on his great play, plus stalwart citizenship (I remember seeing him when he played for the University of Texas in the 2015 NCAA National Golf Championship, which was held at Eugene Country Club.  Turned out that the University of Oregon won the title on its home course, but, in the match play finals, Scheffler took down the Ducks’ #1 player, Aaron Wise.)

To this list, I would add:

• Jordan Spieth, who usually plays well at The Masters,” sometimes well enough to win

• Collin Morikawa, who has developed into one of the game’s stars

• Viktor Hovland, who is the only golfer on the PGA Tour, so far at least, from Norway (the homeland of my forbears)

• Dustin Johnson, who is a former champion perhaps rounding into form

So, who is my favorite this year?  Well, not a name on either list above.

I think Justin Thomas is in a good position to win, given the overall strength of his game, particularly with his irons.  He also has an ability to play in tough weather conditions, which could be the case at Augusta National this year.

For Thomas, the question always revolves around his putter.  If he is on, watch out.

He showed golf fans a lot when he played in the recent Players Championship and almost emerged as the winner.  On the bad-weather Saturday of that tournament in Florida, Thomas displayed great touch with his driver, 3-metal, and long-irons that almost defied belief. 

He hit into the wind with verve, vigor and aggression.  Most of those competing against him did not.

Will this translate to the Masters’? 

Of course, no one knows, but, if I was betting on golf tournaments – and I do not – I would place money on Thomas.  Besides, he’s fun to watch with none other than the great caddie, Bones McKay, on his bag.  [I add that it will be unusual not to see McKay’s previous Phil Mickelson in the field this year.  I continue to hope he finds a way to restore his reputation because he is good for golf.]

By his own admission, a win for Thomas would help him rise above past major-tournament failures. 

To me, it also would be a win for the ages because I am a Thomas fan.