As I write this Daily Diary on Monday afternoon I am stuck in a traffic jam, driving in our rental car with my pilot Ricky Elliott, Brooks Koepka’s caddie, to Magnolia Lane in Augusta for the 87th edition of The Masters.

I first came to The Masters in 1994 and have been here almost every year since.

This week I have three players in the field: Brooks Koepka, Thomas Pieters and Danny Willett. My big buddy Mike Walker is looking after Matt Fitzpatrick.

Last week was big for Brooks as he won his second individual trophy in the LIV Golf League in Orlando.

Top golfer

Brooks is a top golfer, has won four majors and has spent 47 weeks as the number one golfer in the world as recently as in 2020.

We know he has suffered injuries but I am still finding it hard to read the current Rankings with him placed in 118th spot.

Winning brings confidence wherever it is and I can see that growing throughout his game following last week’s win in Orlando.

There are 18 LIV golfers in the field. I suggest it is the media hyping up the rivalry between the golfers with LIV and the establishment of the game. But looking at history, sport at the highest level has always required genuine rivalry to attract the eyes of the spectators; whether on TV or on the ground.

Has Brooks got a chance this week?

Of course he has. I am always biased towards my players. Brooks can overpower any golf course and his game has always been based on power. Will the 54-hole LIV events mean that he is not match-fit with no cut in the LIV shotgun start format, with the team element being focused on? I do not believe so.

It is his eighth visit to Augusta with a best tied second in 2019 one behind the champion, and arguably should have won, as he double bogeyed the 12th in the final round. But most golfers have hard lucky stories every week, especially Masters week. He has had only one other top 10 finish here.

88 players

It has been said that The Masters is the easiest major to win, with this year 88 players in the field including seven amateurs as well as former champions invited and continue to play, including the likes of Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Larry Mize, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir and let’s give a shout out to Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion, playing in his final Masters at aged 65.

At what other sport can this happen?

It is probably one of the most anticipated ‘Must watch’ Masters weeks for many years and I have not even mentioned Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy or defending champion Scottie Scheffler.

I am staying this week in a house we have rented for 20 years, with Ricky and Billy Foster, caddying for Fitzpatrick.

I am looking forward to this special week. My health is OK, but I am still seeing a specialist regarding my dizziness, not quite feeling 100%, but we will stay strong and tough it out this week and we will speak to you all soon! I have won 12 majors with all my players to date. Is it time for my 13th? Fingers crossed for another great week.

- Peter Cowen is 72 years old, one of the world’s top golf coaches, is a Dubai Golden VISA Awardee and has Peter Cowen Academies at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and headquartered in Rotherham in England.