The Masters 2021: Your major championship form guide ahead of Augusta National

There's never a bad moment to enjoy a good run of form in golf's majors but there surely can't have been a better time than now.

Starting with last year's American PGA in August, through to this July's Open Championship at Royal St George's, golf fans the world over will have witnessed seven major championships in the space of 49 weeks.

This week's Masters Tournament at Augusta National represents the mid-point in this bumper 12-month period, with Dustin Johnson defending the title he won in autumn of last year.

And with Americans the dominant specie right now, especially on home soil, US golfers certainly hold the upper hand as the major circus returns to Georgia.

Since Sergio Garcia was presented with his much-deserved Green Jacket in 2017, all 11 majors staged in the United States have been won by home pros.

Americans have also won 11 of the most recent dozen WGC events and, just a few weeks ago, Justin Thomas maintained his country's recent domination of prestigious titles by lifting the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Only three of the 15 PGA Tour events staged this calendar year have been claimed by non-Americans.

It's almost a throwback to the pre-1990s, despite an extremely cosmopolitan look to the current World Ranking.

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Is this the shape of things to come, or merely a peculiar phase in world golf?

Either way, who are the likely contenders this week, both Americans and non-Americans?

Bryson DeChambeau: Destroyed the opposition at Winged Foot last September to win the US Open by six strokes. Anyone who can conquer traditionally tight US Open venues by driving the ball long distances must certainly be in with a great chance to take advantage of Augusta's wider fairways. The world No 5 won at Bay Hill five weeks ago.

Sung Jae Im: The 23-year-old Korean is sixth in the Total Putting category this season and to win at Augusta you certainly need to be confident on the greens. Tied-second on his Masters debut last November.

Dustin Johnson: After a wait of almost four and a half years, finally claimed his second major title at Augusta last November. He has stood on the podium in five of the last 10 majors.

Brooks Koepka: Hasn't competed since the end of February because of injury but is still among the list of Masters' entries. And if the four-time major winner tees-up, don't write him off this weekend. Winner in Phoenix earlier this year and joint-second in the opening WGC event of 2021. Has already arrived at Augusta, around three weeks after needing surgery for a dislocated knee cap.

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Jon Rahm: Will tee-up this week just days following the birth of his first child - a baby boy. This could work both ways for the world No 3 Spaniard who has posted top-10 finishes at Augusta in each of his last three visits.

Patrick Reed: The 2018 Masters champion currently enjoys a high ranking in many PGA Tour putting tables this season. Winner at Torrey Pines in late January and played pretty well in all three majors during 2020.

Jordan Spieth: Returned to form earlier this year with back-to-back top-four finishes at Scottsdale and Pebble Beach. The 27-year-old from Dallas is an Augusta specialist, with four podium finishes to date. When winning the 2015 event, Spieth averaged less than two putts per green (per GiR) for his 72 holes - the only golfer to achieve this in the last eight editions (2013-20). Winner in Texas on Sunday, and hoping to follow in the footsteps of former champs Phil Mickelson (2006) and Sandy Lyle (1988) who both won the PGA Tour event staged the week before the Masters.

Lee Westwood: Just weeks away from turning 48, the world No 20 is playing some of his finest golf in years. A victory at Augusta would make him the oldest ever Masters champ, the second oldest major winner, and the oldest first-time winner of a major. Three times on the Masters' podium.

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Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

Last 10 Majors Key: M (Masters); U (US Open); B (The Open (British)); P (PGA Championship)