Comedians have last laugh on Masters picks

The 19th Hole

Ahead of what proved a momentous US Masters, Golf365 asked an eclectic panel of golf experts who would win the green jacket.

Allocating 5pts for each pundit’s top pick, 3pts for their second choice and 1pt for third, we pooled their collective brain power led to produce a final table.

The outcome? A top three of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler.

Oh dear.

McIlroy failed to make the top 20, Rose missed the cut and Fowler took tied ninth.

The panel included current European Tour pros, betting experts, fantasy gurus, TV commentators and leading writers and yet it was a comedian who put everyone to shame.

Viewers of Alan Partridge’s recent BBC series, ‘This Time’, will know that Simon Denton may struggle to find his way around a touchscreen digiwall but Tim Key, the man behind Alan’s sidekick, knows his onions when it comes to picking a Masters winner.

Award-winning comedian and poet, Key, made Woods his No.1 selection and also chose long-time leader Francesco Molinari (tied fifth) as his third choice.

His reasoning: “Tiger: Written in the runes. Body looking better and better. Molinari: Likes beating Americans.”

For Alan’s benefit, runes are the mystical alphabet used by ancient tribes to divine the course of future events.

Tim Key as ‘Side-kick Simon’, Alan Partridge’s radio partner

Golf writer Paul Mahoney restored some pride to his profession by also picking Tiger but the other notable tipping performance came from another comedian, John Robins.

The stand-up and podcast star chose Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka as his 1-2 and the big-hitting American duo finished tied for second. Lovely stuff.

We’ll also doff our caps to seven-time European Tour winner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The Spaniard had Woods as his second pick and Tony Finau (tied fifth) as his third.

We’re only a few weeks away from the second major of the year, the US PGA.

Tim Key’s pick? You’ll have to wait. Although we won’t ask him to reveal it on a digiwall.

The Masters Tiger Woods

Latest