Spieth squarely among Masters faves

— -- Jordan Spieth's second PGA Tour victory came in the same spectacular fashion as the first: in a playoff. The 21-year-old, who finished runner-up in 2014 at the Masters to eventual champion Bubba Watson, appears to be peaking at just the right time on the golf calendar.

So what's in store for the young Texan? And might he derail Rory McIlroy's hopes at finishing off the career Grand Slam in a few weeks?

Our scribes dive into those topics and more in the latest edition of Four-Ball. Actually, let's make it a five-some this week.

1. Where does Jordan Spieth rank on your Masters short list of favorites?

"SportsCenter" anchor Matt Barrie: Prior to the Valspar Championship, Jordan Spieth hadn't played his best golf, but was still in my top 10 to win the Masters. With Sunday's win, you can firmly put Spieth in the top 7 to take home the green jacket. At 20-years old, Spieth had the lead last year in the final round at Augusta, only for a more experienced Bubba Watson to take control on the back nine. On Sunday it was clutch putting down the stretch that carried Spieth to a win. Clutch putting at Augusta is paramount. That he did it in the final round Sunday, regardless of the tournament, shows me he's ready once again to compete at the Masters.

"SportsCenter" anchor Jonathan Coachman: I thought last year that Jordan Spieth had the game to win. Now I know he does. He has three worldwide wins in the past four months. And Sunday was as much pressure as you can have. I would put Spieth right behind Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson. Spieth is becoming like Matt Kuchar, only with a little more killer instinct. The 21-year-old hates losing and has become a top-10 machine. He has become comfortable being one of the great players in the world and has officially begun his ascent to challenge McIlroy for the No. 1 player in the world.

ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins: Going into Bay Hill, I'd rank him second behind Dustin Johnson with Rory McIlroy now a close third. The short game Spieth has shown on tour would be impressive if I hadn't heard stories of the challenges he'd take from adults in his high school days back in Texas. The kid has a short game somewhere between Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.

ESPN.com senior golf writer Bob Harig: He's certainly among those you would think have a great chance to win, and his victory Sunday at the Valspar Championship gives him an added boost. Spieth had been pressing to get that second PGA Tour win and now he has it, giving him four worldwide victories as a pro. And don't forget he was in the hunt until the back nine on Sunday at Augusta a year ago.

"SportsCenter" coordinating producer John Ziomek: After the way he handled the pressure Sunday, making one clutch par putt after another and then winning with a birdie in the playoff, Spieth has to be right there among the favorites. Undoubtedly the pressure on a Sunday at the Masters is greater than what Spieth faced at Palm Harbor, but let's remember he's been there, done that already. He led the Masters through three rounds last year, and after a respectable even-par 72 on Sunday, only Bubba Watson beat him.

2.How important is Rory McIlroy's last start prior to the Masters this week at Bay Hill?

Barrie: Golf is no different than any sport. Confidence is contagious. And right now Rory McIlroy doesn't appear to be beaming with it. In his two PGA Tour starts this year, McIlroy has a missed cut and a backdoor T-9 at Doral. He can turn it on as quick as any player on the planet, and he'll have to do that this week at Bay Hill so he can head to Augusta in top form. McIlroy hasn't been shy about his desire for the career Grand Slam. Expect Rory to go low at Arnie's event.

Coachman: This week at Bay Hill is going to be paramount for Rory McIlroy. If he misses another cut or just doesn't play well, that will be the last memory going to Augusta. Rory is a momentum player. When he is dialed in, no one can even stay close. He's shown us before at Augusta that his game at times is far superior to everyone else's, but he has to play the final 18 holes. And if the 72 at Bay Hill aren't Rory-like, then I don't think he will have his A game in April.

Collins: The importance is in Rory McIlroy making the cut and playing four competitive rounds. It'd be great for his confidence if he were to finish inside the top 10. The golf courses are so different in the shot-making sense that the only thing you can take from one track to the next is the ability to hit and control shots on command. Being able to do that down the stretch during a tournament is something McIlroy needs to feel before the Masters.

Harig: Much more important than it ever figured to be, given his sudden average play during his past two tournaments. Although it has been just six rounds, McIlroy has yet to shoot in the 60s on the PGA Tour this year. Now he goes to a place where he has never played, and one that is not all that easy. What if he misses the cut at Bay Hill? He needs four rounds, and it wouldn't hurt if he got in the mix.

Ziomek: Rory McIlroy doesn't need to win, but he does need to clean up his long iron and wedge game. A little fine tuning and a couple of low numbers this week will help his confidence headed to Augusta.

3. Fact or fiction: Adam Scott should switch back to the long putter prior to the Masters.

Barrie: Love this question. Short term it makes sense to switch back to the long putter prior to the Masters. Long term, he has stay with the short putter because of the rule change. I always like thinking big picture. Give me fiction. He needs to get comfortable with the short, short stick. Otherwise, the mental demons could creep in if he doesn't ditch his comfort zone now.

Coachman: Fiction. He has looked terrific with the short putter. You simply can't go back and forth. Golf is about mental commitment in all facets of your game. Putting is so important at Augusta that if he isn't 100 percent committed, he will lose 6 to 8 strokes over the course of four days. And that can be the difference between winning and losing. Instead of changing back, how about just playing the week before so you can have four tournament days under your belt right before the Masters? I don't know why more guys don't play in Houston.

Collins: Fact, but just for the Masters. It's be like finding your old favorite sweatshirt on a cool spring evening -- still feels perfect and still has all those great memories. He can give it to Goodwill after and focus on the search for a consistent short putter, but for those greens at Augusta ... "dance wit da one that brung ya."

Harig: Fiction. Although perhaps we were too quick to praise the switch to the short putter -- Scott was poor during the final round at Doral and in missing the cut at Innisbrook -- it's ultimately a smart move to stick with the short putter. Scott hasn't ruled out using the long one at Augusta, but overall, he's best to stay with the short putter as he'll have no choice at the end of the year.

Ziomek: Fact. Why not use the putter you are most comfortable with, win as many tournaments, majors and money as you can, and switch only when forced to? The transition might be harder in 2016, but who cares if you have 1-2 major trophies sitting on your shelf.

4. What did we learn about Patrick Reed on Sunday?

Barrie: Just a couple weeks ago on SportsCenter, Andy North and Tom Rinaldi were on with me from the WGC Cadillac in Miami. And I asked them if Patrick Reed was the next great American golfer, and both agreed Reed has what it takes for the answer to be "yes." Reed believes he can make any shot. He has a mouth and backs it up on the course. And as he showed Sunday in the final round at the Valspar Championship, he has the ability to make big putts when it counts. Spieth ended up getting the best of Reed, but I look forward to Reed vs. Spieth duels for the next decade.

Coachman: Patrick Reed continues to impress me. To make that long putt to force a playoff was remarkable. The look on his face is why he is determined to be a major champion. He never gives up. He can produce and he can do it with flair. Reed thrives on the big stage. Doesn't mean he won't fail, but he is not afraid, either. Reed is perfect for golf. He understands fans want to be entertained, and if no one is going to be in his corner, he doesn't need them. He will win anyway. Any great "heel" in wrestling was hated at first and then made for the biggest "baby faces" in the world.

Collins: We learned that he can compete on any and every style of golf course. He's won on big courses, but the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook is all about precision. Reed started Sunday 4 shots back of the lead and shot the second-best round of the day. ( Harris English dropped a 65 on 'em, but was way out of contention). Even though Reed lost in the playoff, he was upbeat in the post-round interview. This should be a big hint as to how he's feeling about his all-around game. Don't be at all surprised if he's in contention at Augusta. Still giggling about his top-5 player comment? I didn't think so.

Harig: He can perform even when he is not at his best. Reed had lots of difficulty off the tee -- that has been the case for the better part of a month -- and yet he managed to get in a playoff and overcame his driving issues. That big, sweeping hook isn't going to work forever, but Reed decided not to fight it, went with it, and made the best of a tough situation, nearly pulling off a victory in the process.

Ziomek: We learned just how mentally tough Reed is. To be able to put all the noise aside this week and make a charge on Sunday to get into the playoff is pretty impressive stuff. Where was that performance last week when I picked him at Doral?