The top storylines heading into the 2020 Masters

It took some time, but the 2020 Masters is about to be played. Normally a tradition unlike any other, this will be an installment of this grand championship unlike any other. First off, the Masters is being played outside of March or April for the first time due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic last spring. Unfortunately, the virus has not been well contain and cases continue to raise.

Now, even before COVID-19 cases continued to rise at alarming rates throughout the United States over the last month, the decision was made to not allow fans into August National. Regardless of what stage of the virus the country was in, things never settled down enough for those making decisions about the tournaments to totally feel comfortable with allowing galleries in place.

So, if there will be no fans at the 2020 Masters, the event will obviously look remarkably different on television to the millions watching around the globe. One of the challenges of hosting the Masters in the fall in the Eastern time zone is that it gets darker much earlier (approximately 5:25 p.m.). Don't fret, CBS, ESPN and masters.com is place to go for all the action, and starting earlier in the day as usual. In fact, CBS is expected to tee off coverage of Sunday's final round at 10 a.m. and finish around 3 p.m.

The weather will be cooler and the azaleas will have more of an orange hue than the traditional April pink and white from spring. Yes, Augusta National will look different in November than it does in April. Also, many golf pundits, former touring pros and general Augusta aficionados believe the course will play noticeably softer in the fall (due to a larger build-up of moisture from lengthier rains and cooler temperatures). Which, we would think, most in the field won't mind.

OK, if there are no galleries hooting and hollering and the Augusta track could potentially play softer, how will the field react? Going back to the former, it will be interesting to see how these golfers handle the Masters without fans. Now, some like Rory McIlroy have reportedly spoke of playing a fanless event much to taking in a usual scouting/practice round in the weeks prior to the event. Keep in mind, these guys have also played the PGA Championship and U.S. Open without spectators. We think they'll be just fine. 

While watching the action from Augusta this week, it will be obvious that it's being played amid a global pandemic that is not slowing down. So, there's always a chance that COVID-19 has direct effect on the tournament. Already, Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia have been forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. Will they be the only ones slated to be the in field? We'll see.

On Saturday, the Masters and ESPN's College GameDay pregame show will cross paths. The GameDay crew will be on hand at Augusta National for the morning of Saturday's third round. It's a nice temporary marriage of two popular sports tradition to come together and celebrate the fact that both golf and college football - in their own unique forms - are still being played amid a global pandemic. Which golfer mask will Lee Corso sport for his pick to win?

There will be much missing from the full Masters in 2020. One is the traditionally popular Par 3 Contest, held on the Wednesday prior to the first round. It's one of the lighter moments of the week. When current stars and golf legends, like Jack Nicklaus, laugh it up with their families -- usually their younger children or grandchildren. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed the exhibition, at least for one year. 

There are plenty of favorites to win at Augusta this week (we'll get to them). Then there are those bigger names who we might have forgotten about in recent years. One of the bigger names is Rickie Fowler. Still one of the most popular names on the PGA Tour, Fowler seems to have taken a step back when it comes to being on the cusp of winning his first major title. However, don't count Fowler out this week after tying for second at the Masters in 2018 and ninth last season.

Phil Mickelson will obviously go down as one of the great golfers of all time. He's a five-time major champion, which includes three green jackets. However, Lefty's days as a serious contender at Augusta -- or any major for that matter -- looked to have passed. So, talking about long shots, Phil is among the longest of the long. But, he's still popular and the cameras will follow him, at least on Thursday and Friday. In his last three Masters, Mickelson's best finish is a tie for 18th.

Unless we're talking hardcore golf fans, not many are familiar with the slew of amateur golfers in this year's Masters field. Finishing as low amateur at the Masters is quite the honor. So, who should we keep in mind? Former Georgia Tech star Andy Ogletree won the 2019 U.S. Amateur and James Sugrue took medalist honors at last year's U.S. British Am. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt star John Augenstein is also worthy of attention.

It's still hard to believe that Justin Thomas has only one major title on his resume (the 2017 PGA Championship). He's the third-ranked golfer in the world and has two victories in 2020. So, we assume that Thomas will be in the hunt this weekend at Augusta. We're obviously not going out on a limb here, but it will also be worth watching to see if the pressure to win another major is getting to hm.

It's a major championship so we have to talk about Rory McIlroy. But, while Rory is certainly considered a favorite this week at Augusta, he has not won a major since 2014. And, the Masters is the only major that's kept Rory from completing a career grand slam that's suddenly become somewhat elusive for one of the biggest golf stars in the world.

Dustin Johnson is the No. 1 golfer in the world and the FedEx Cup Champion. He also tied for second at the 2019 Masters, so one would expect this could be the year that DJ will claim his second major title. Augusta National has been a likable place for Johnson, who has finished inside the top 10 at the Masters in each of his last four starts there. There are plenty of big names expected to be in the hunt this weekend, and DJ might be at the top of the list.

When we're talking kids, it's obviously about young adults. Two specifically. We expect reigning PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa to be in the hunt over the weekend since the 23-year old has a knack for playing above his age. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Matthew Wolff is another golfer who has blossomed into a major favorite after tying for fourth at the PGA Tournament and finishing second at the U.S. Open.

The "best-to-never-win-a-major" category is usually a fun discussion to get going. Plus, winning your first major at the Masters would be truly special. So, who are those to watch that fall under this topic? Off the tee, Jon Rahm (T4 in 2018 and T9 in 2019 Masters) and Xander Schauffele (T2 at 2019 Masters) come to mind. Meanwhile, Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Cantlay are other names that we'd expect to see on the first page of the leaderboard at some point this week. 

Bryson DeChambeau, body of a linebacker and mind of a mathematician. He's also one of the favorites this weekend at Augusta. The reigning U.S. Open champion, DeChambeau has gone from one of the best players never to win a major to the guy many expect to win a green jacket. That said, Augusta has not been all that kind to him in three starts -- the best coming in 2016 when he earned low-amateur honors with a T21.

Finally, all eyes should be on Tiger Woods this week. Naturally, since he's the reigning Masters champion and again looks for his PGA Tour-record 83rd victory. A win this weekend would give Woods his sixth Masters title and a 16th major championship. Reportedly, Tiger says he's playing better now than he was when the Masters would have been held in April. We'll see if that's good enough to keep him in contention.