Jordan Spieth feels the US Masters at Augusta is shaping up to be the ‘hardest to win’ in recent years given the high quality golf being played by some leading contenders.

Jason Day’s victory at the WGC-Dell Matchplay saw him eclipse Spieth as world number one, while Rory McIlroy showed himself to be in good form leading towards Augusta in a semi-final loss to the Australian.

Former Green Jacket winners Bubba Watson and Adam Scott have been in exceptional form recently while Louis Oosthuizen, who beat by Day in the Matchplay decider, also has a strong record at Augusta National.

It all leads Spieth to predict that the season’s opening major championship is going to be fiercely contested.

“I think this year’s Masters might be the hardest one to win in quite a while as far as the depth of the field and the quality of golf being played by people who play Augusta National very well,” Spieth said ahead of the Shell Houston Open.

Spieth led from pillar to post at Augusta last year as he made his major breakthrough. He would also go on to land the US Open and produce strong performances in the Open Championship and the USPGA Championship.

His Masters success came on the back of a playoff loss at the Houston Open a week before Augusta.

The American wants to contend again in Houston this week. He feels his game is in decent shape and wants to start testing his nerve and uncanny ability to hole out when it matters most.

“It’s right where we want it to be going into the Masters. It’s just a matter now of hitting nerve-racking shots and putts,” he added.

Spieth is 8.00 to win back-to-back Green Jackets at Augusta while new world number one Day is 7.00 as he seeks consecutive major wins.