By far my favorite golf tourny of the year. The course is cool, the tradition is phenomenal, I love the quirky way they decide the field and the best players in the World always contend and more often than not you will get a Tiger, VJ, or Phil taking it home instead of a Justin Leonard, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton, type. Which is much more entertaining.
4 People to Watch to Contend
Obvious - Phil Mickelson - Mickeltits loves the masters, it's his best tourny by far, and he's already got two hefty Green Jackets. He never misses the cut here and routinely finishes in the top ten. If you're going to pick Mickeltits to win a major this season, this should be it. Will the defending champ get it done, I don't think so, but he'll certainly make it interesting.
Secondary - Sergio Garcia - I get the feeling that this just might be Sergio's year to get off the schnide, well that is if Tiger doesn't sweep through the majors. A Euro hasn't won a major since 1999, since Paul Lowerie one the Van da Velde tank job British Open. Their due and Sergio is still the best of the litter.
Unknown - Henrik Stenson - A Swedish Stud that is still almost completely unknown on US soil by the casual golf fan. He didn't make the cut last year, but has the potential to become a world renowned superstar.
Darkhorse - Charles Howell III - He sucked last year and finished in last. Dead last out of 90. Behind every amateur, behind the ancient Gary Player, everybody. So why him? Well Augusta is his home, he has played very well this season thus far and I think that he will take some pressure off himself this week. Plus he's a bomber.
3 People Who Might Surpisingly Miss the Cut
The Goofy Swinger - Jim Furyk -Furyk isn't a blaster and is more of a precise golfer. That is why he's so much better at the US Open than the Masters. While contending is pretty much out of the question, Furyk missing a cut at a major would still be surprising, but very much could happen.
The Shocker - Adam Scott - Coming off his first win in awhile it would seem like his game has come around. I'm going to take a flier and say that he struggles this weekend similarly to last year, except in the earlier rounds rather than the latter.
The Old - Fred Couples - Fred has made the cut at Augusta 23 years in a row. So I'd say if he missed the cut it would be pretty shocking. In addition Fred played pretty darn well last year at the Masters finishing in 3rd. But every streak needs to end at some point, will this be the year.
2 People to Root For this Weekend
The Old Guys - Arnold, Jack, Gary, Seve, Watson - This is what makes the Master's so great. The best players in the world typically win the Master's atleast once and they come back every year to tee it up with the current best in the world. None of these guys have any chance to win, but imagine if Arnie or Player made the cut I think that would be cool enough.
The Locale Boy - JJ Henry - It's JJ's first trip to Augusta National and while he hasn't played terrifically in the past few weeks he has been making cuts. I think his game will suit the Masters well. He's a bomber and the further you hit the ball at the Masters the better your chances are. Unlike the US Open which kills players for spraying into the rough, the Master's rough can be handled. I think JJ makes the cut and finishes around 30th, not bad for the first go round.
1 Winner
Tigger Woo - I'm really going out on a limb on this one. Fact Tiger has been almost unstoppable since the start of the 2nd half of last season. Fact Tigger is dominant at Augusta. Fact this season has the potential to go down as Tiger's best ever, he is playing that good now. And he is going to throw on yet another green jacket. I'd take Tiger over the field this week. We've seen Phil hand over one green jacket to Tiger in the past and this weekend we shall see it once more.
4 People to Watch to Contend
Obvious - Phil Mickelson - Mickeltits loves the masters, it's his best tourny by far, and he's already got two hefty Green Jackets. He never misses the cut here and routinely finishes in the top ten. If you're going to pick Mickeltits to win a major this season, this should be it. Will the defending champ get it done, I don't think so, but he'll certainly make it interesting.Secondary - Sergio Garcia - I get the feeling that this just might be Sergio's year to get off the schnide, well that is if Tiger doesn't sweep through the majors. A Euro hasn't won a major since 1999, since Paul Lowerie one the Van da Velde tank job British Open. Their due and Sergio is still the best of the litter.
Unknown - Henrik Stenson - A Swedish Stud that is still almost completely unknown on US soil by the casual golf fan. He didn't make the cut last year, but has the potential to become a world renowned superstar.
Darkhorse - Charles Howell III - He sucked last year and finished in last. Dead last out of 90. Behind every amateur, behind the ancient Gary Player, everybody. So why him? Well Augusta is his home, he has played very well this season thus far and I think that he will take some pressure off himself this week. Plus he's a bomber.
3 People Who Might Surpisingly Miss the Cut
The Goofy Swinger - Jim Furyk -Furyk isn't a blaster and is more of a precise golfer. That is why he's so much better at the US Open than the Masters. While contending is pretty much out of the question, Furyk missing a cut at a major would still be surprising, but very much could happen.
The Shocker - Adam Scott - Coming off his first win in awhile it would seem like his game has come around. I'm going to take a flier and say that he struggles this weekend similarly to last year, except in the earlier rounds rather than the latter.
The Old - Fred Couples - Fred has made the cut at Augusta 23 years in a row. So I'd say if he missed the cut it would be pretty shocking. In addition Fred played pretty darn well last year at the Masters finishing in 3rd. But every streak needs to end at some point, will this be the year.
2 People to Root For this Weekend
The Old Guys - Arnold, Jack, Gary, Seve, Watson - This is what makes the Master's so great. The best players in the world typically win the Master's atleast once and they come back every year to tee it up with the current best in the world. None of these guys have any chance to win, but imagine if Arnie or Player made the cut I think that would be cool enough.The Locale Boy - JJ Henry - It's JJ's first trip to Augusta National and while he hasn't played terrifically in the past few weeks he has been making cuts. I think his game will suit the Masters well. He's a bomber and the further you hit the ball at the Masters the better your chances are. Unlike the US Open which kills players for spraying into the rough, the Master's rough can be handled. I think JJ makes the cut and finishes around 30th, not bad for the first go round.
1 Winner
Tigger Woo - I'm really going out on a limb on this one. Fact Tiger has been almost unstoppable since the start of the 2nd half of last season. Fact Tigger is dominant at Augusta. Fact this season has the potential to go down as Tiger's best ever, he is playing that good now. And he is going to throw on yet another green jacket. I'd take Tiger over the field this week. We've seen Phil hand over one green jacket to Tiger in the past and this weekend we shall see it once more.
Comments