| 1 |
Tiger Woods |
14 |
Win (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005) |
13 |
| He's been pointing toward this week since having season-ending knee surgery last June. Need we say more? |
| 2 |
Phil Mickelson |
16 |
Win (2004, 2006) |
2 |
| A two-time winner already this season, Mickelson recently regained the No. 2 spot in the world. Can he challenge Tiger? |
| 3 |
Sergio Garcia |
10 |
T4 (2004) |
130 |
| Of the four majors, he's had the least success here -- missing the cut the last two years and four times in 10 appearances. Can he change? |
| 4 |
Geoff Ogilvy |
3 |
T24 (2007) |
1 |
| He's got a major-league game and two wins under his belt in 2009. The former U.S. Open champ should contend. |
| 5 |
Padraig Harrington |
9 |
T5 (2008) |
73 |
| Thanks to Tiger, he's not the top story coming in this week, even as he attempts the third leg of the Paddy Slam. The results this year are subpar, though. |
| 6 |
Paul Casey |
4 |
T6 (2004) |
31 |
| He's a contender. Casey has a solid record at Augusta with three finishes of 11th or better and he's already won in Europe this year. |
| 7 |
Vijay Singh |
15 |
Win (2000) |
131 |
| If his back is healthy, Singh's a good bet. Not only has he won the Masters, he's finished 18th or better in the eight starts since. |
| 8 |
Henrik Stenson |
3 |
T17 (2007, 2008) |
N/A |
| He made a noise with his near strip-tease at Doral but the Swede already has a tie for second and solo third in Europe. |
| 9 |
Robert Karlsson |
3 |
T8 (2008) |
N/A |
| He's yet to hit his stride after an Order-of-Merit-winning season in 2008. But he did finish T8 here last year. |
| 10 |
Camilo Villegas |
2 |
MC (twice) |
24 |
| When he's made the cut this year, Villegas hasn't finished lower than 12th this year. Can he's failed to make the cut in two starts here. |
| 11 |
Kenny Perry |
8 |
T12 (1995) |
4 |
| The ageless 48-year-old Perry will be making his first trip to Augusta since 2005 with momentum after a win and four other top-10s this year. |
| 12 |
Steve Stricker |
8 |
T10 (2001) |
11 |
| He's had a chance to win a couple of times this year, but with five missed cuts, Augusta National might not be the place to break through. |
| 13 |
Lee Westwood |
9 |
T6 (1999) |
N/A |
| He's started slowly this year with just one top-10 on the European Tour, but after a T3 at last year's U.S. Open nothing would surprise. |
| 14 |
Anthony Kim |
0 |
N/A |
36 |
| Hard to believe this is Kim's first trip. He's a question mark, though, after just five starts in the States this year and illness and a shoulder injury. |
| 15 |
Jim Furyk |
12 |
4th (1998, 2003) |
36 |
| Fairways and greens are Furyk's game but Augusta National's length has negated his advantage. |
| 16 |
Ernie Els |
15 |
2nd (2000, 2004) |
28 |
| He had a stellar run at the start of the 21st century, never finishing lower than sixth in six starts, but has MCs in his last two trips. |
| 17 |
Rory McIlroy |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The 19-year-old McIlroy won on the European Tour this year but to expect the teenager to slip into a Green Jacket in his first visit is a stretch. |
| 18 |
Stewart Cink |
11 |
T3 (2008) |
37 |
| Cink, who practiced in the rain at Augusta National last week, was third at the match play but has yet to top-10 in stroke play this year. |
| 19 |
Mike Weir |
9 |
Win (2003) |
17 |
| He's cooled off after a T3 and second on the West Coast, but Augusta National brings out the best in the diminutive Canadian |
| 20 |
Martin Kaymer |
1 |
MC (2008) |
N/A |
| The young German played well in the Middle East with two top-4s and came to Houston to get in some extra preparation. |
| 21 |
Retief Goosen |
10 |
2nd (2002, 2007) |
7 |
| Even during his "slump," Goosen played well at Augusta -- he's had four top-3s since 2002 and hasn't finished lower than 17th. |
| 22 |
Adam Scott |
7 |
T9 (2002) |
37 |
| That tie for second in Hawaii was his highlight of the season; Scott comes to Augusta National off two missed cuts. |
| 23 |
K.J. Choi |
6 |
3rd (2004) |
47 |
| Choi's putter has let him down early this season, but he's always a threat to become the first Asian to win a major. |
| 24 |
Zach Johnson |
4 |
1st (2007) |
5 |
| He knows what it takes and he's playing well this year. Don't be surprised to see him on the leaderboard. |
| 25 |
Justin Rose |
4 |
T5 (2007) |
125 |
| The Englishman shared the first-round lead at Augusta National in '07 when he finished 12th or better in all four majors. |
| 26 |
Justin Leonard |
13 |
T7 (1997) |
30 |
| He needs to take advantage of the par 5s, so his wedge game will be key. |
| 27 |
Alvara Quiros |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| The big-hitting Spaniard didn't have cable so he wasn't able to watch Ballesteros and Olazabal win. He's making his first-ever major appearance |
| 28 |
Sean O'Hair |
2 |
T14 (2008) |
9 |
| He's got the length to neutralize Augusta National, and he's had a week to get over that heartbreaker at Bay Hill. |
| 29 |
Robert Allenby |
9 |
T22 (2006) |
T53 |
| He's off to a good start with two top-10s but Augusta National has never been good to him. |
| 30 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez |
10 |
T8 (2008) |
N/A |
| It's been feast or famine for the red-haired Spaniard this year but he has a major-league game. |
| 31 |
Jeev Milka Singh |
2 |
T25 (2008) |
N/A |
| The well-traveled man from India might be a better bet this year than his more famous Fijian "cousin." |
| 32 |
Trevor Immelman |
6 |
1st (2008) |
107 |
| The defending champion has been quiet this year but he was encouraged by his Florida swing. |
| 33 |
Ross Fisher |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
| The young Englishman made a splash when he reached the final four at the Accenture Match Play Championship, but he's 1-for-4 in major cuts made. |
| 34 |
Luke Donald |
3 |
T3 (2005) |
31 |
| He certainly fits the mold of the last two Masters champions; two top-10s -- along with a healthy wrist -- should give him confidence. |
| 35 |
Nick Watney |
1 |
T11 (2008) |
3 |
| His debut last year was solid, and Watney is playing even better now with a win and a runner-up finish already in 2009. |
| 36 |
Ben Curtis |
5 |
T39 (2006) |
99 |
| He may own a Claret Jug, but the Masters isn't his cup of tea with four missed cuts in five starts |
| 37 |
Tim Clark |
7 |
2nd (2006) |
32 |
| He missed the cut last year but stayed around and helped his buddy Trevor Immelman celebrate; can he turn the tables this year? |
| 38 |
Ian Poulter |
4 |
T13 (2007) |
124 |
| That second place at Royal Birkdale had to give him even more confidence. Is this the week he steps up? |
| 39 |
Oliver Wilson |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The 28-year-old Brit, still looking for his first European Tour win, makes his Masters debut. |
| 40 |
Dustin Johnson |
0 |
N/A |
10 |
| Already a winner at Pebble Beach, he has the length to tame Augusta National, but will his short game cooperate? |
| 41 |
Soren Kjeldsen |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| His major record is limited -- just two cuts made in seven previous starts. |
| 42 |
Andres Romero |
1 |
T8 (2008) |
68 |
| He tied for third in L.A. but his other results have been mixed this year. Still, he proved he had major game with two top-10s last year. |
| 43 |
Shingo Katayama |
7 |
T27 (2006) |
N/A |
| He and Alvaro Quiros will be crowd-pleasers with their cowboy hats, but Katayama has broken par only twice at Augusta National. |
| 44 |
Stephen Ames |
4 |
T11 (2006) |
70 |
| He's still looking for his first top-10 of the season at a place where another Canadian has had more success. |
| 45 |
Graeme McDowell |
1 |
MC (2005) |
N/A |
| He missed the cut in his only appearance at Augusta National, but four years later, McDowell is a much better player. |
| 46 |
Hunter Mahan |
2 |
T28 (2003) |
40 |
| He's off to a solid start with four top-25s in eight tournaments, including a tie for sixth last week at the "western" Masters in Houston. |
| 47 |
Rory Sabbatini |
6 |
T2 (2007) |
62 |
| He opened with three finishes of 12th or better but a T53 is his best in stroke play since he tied for sixth at the Northern Trust Open. |
| 49 |
Pat Perez |
1 |
T45 (2003) |
NA |
| The newlywed earned his way back into the field with his first TOUR win at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. |
| 50 |
Prayad Marksaeng |
1 |
WD (2008) |
N/A |
| The Thai veteran was disappointed when a pulled muscle forced him to withdraw last year and played hard to get his chance this year. |
| 51 |
Louis Oosthuizen |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| A practice round with Gary Player and defending champ Trevor Immelman should have been inspirational for the South African rookie. |
| 52 |
Mathew Goggin |
0 |
N/A |
34 |
| His major record isn't anything to write home about with five MCs in seven starts, but a pair of top-10s this season give cause for hope. |
| 54 |
Stuart Appleby |
12 |
T7 (2007) |
91 |
| After some futility early, Appleby has found his comfort zone at Augusta National with top-20s in his last three starts. |
| 55 |
Aaron Baddeley |
4 |
T52 (2007) |
117 |
| Augusta National hasn't been kind to the young Aussie, who has yet to break par in 10 competitive rounds there. |
| 56 |
Richard Sterne |
1 |
T25 (2008) |
N/A |
| He won twice in his native South Africa in December but has played sparingly on TOUR this year, losing in the first round at Accenture and placing 73rd at the CA Championship. |
| 60 |
Kevin Sutherland |
2 |
T33 (2003) |
51 |
| A top-30 finish in the FedExCup last year earned the Californian this third trip. |
| 61 |
Soren Hansen |
1 |
MC (2008) |
N/A |
| The Dane played in all four majors -- and the Ryder Cup -- for the first time last year. He didn't break par at Augusta National, though. |
| 62 |
Wen-Tang Lin |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The winner of two Asian Tour events last year, Lin is making his major championship debut this week. |
| 64 |
Boo Weekley |
1 |
T20 (2008) |
79 |
| His Achilles Heel is his putter, which isn't a plus on these fast greens. Weekley ranks 172nd in putting and 182nd in putts per round this year. |
| 68 |
D.J. Trahan |
2 |
MC (2002, 2008) |
26 |
| A consistent start to the season is highlighted by T6s and just one MC. Look for him to stick around all four days this time. |
| 69 |
Angel Cabrera |
9 |
T8 (2006) |
132 |
| He's had Masters success before with three top-10s, but he's played just four rounds twice in five stroke play events this year. |
| 71 |
Dudley Hart |
4 |
T28 (2000) |
163 |
| He's playing for the first time in seven years after a top-30 FedExCup finish and his short game better be ready. |
| 73 |
Ryuji Imada |
0 |
N/A |
49 |
| His game may be more suited to the U.S. Open where he's had three top-20s. That said, Imada is cut from the Immelman-Johnson mold so he could surprise. |
| 74 |
Ryo Ishikawa |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The poised 17-year-old Ishikawa will be helped by his pairing with Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy, but expectations have been set too high right now. |
| 76 |
Chad Campbell |
5 |
T3 (2006) |
75 |
| Campbell, who is returning after a one-year absence, held the 36-hole lead in '06 and finished three strokes behind Phil Mickelson. |
| 78 |
Carl Pettersson |
2 |
T27 (2006) |
96 |
| A normally steady player, the Swede has started slowly this year and missed the cut in his last two starts. |
| 79 |
Fred Couples |
24 |
1st (1992) |
N/A |
| Couples may have missed his first Masters cut last year, but the 49-year-old has 10 top-10s at Augusta National and momentum after a tie for third in Houston. |
| 91 |
Brandt Snedeker |
2 |
T3 (2008) |
154 |
| He came close last year, and this Tennessean would love to recapture that momentum here. |
| 93 |
Rocco Mediate |
9 |
T15 (2001) |
126 |
| This crowd favorite has been just one solid round away from a really good finish this year. |
| 112 |
Ken Duke |
0 |
N/A |
159 |
| He'll have his teacher, Bob Toski, with him as he makes his Masters debut. |
| 118 |
Briny Baird |
1 |
MC (2004) |
46 |
| Baird, who earned his way back to Augusta National when he played in last year's TOUR Championship, will need to rely on his short game. |
| 120 |
Steve Flesch |
4 |
T5 (2009) |
139 |
| His seventh-place finish in Tampa three weeks ago was a bright spot in a season that has seen five missed cuts in seven starts. |
| 124 |
John Merrick |
0 |
N/A |
22 |
| With two top 10s this season, including solo second at the 50th Bob Hope Classic presented by Arnold Palmer, Merrick should take confidence into his Masters debut. |
| 129 |
Bubba Watson |
1 |
T20 (2008) |
74 |
| Four of his five paychecks this year have been top-25 finishes, so he could be a factor. |
| 131 |
Billy Mayfair |
11 |
T12 (1991) |
183 |
| The five-time PGA TOUR champ opened the season with five missed cuts and hasn't finished higher than 38th. |
| 147 |
Danny Lee |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The talented 18-year-old won on the European Tour in February but has admitted to a case of nerves this week. The reigning U.S. Amateur champ turns pro next week. |
| 150 |
Y.E. Yang |
1 |
T30 (2007) |
16 |
| The 37-year-old from Korea won his first PGA TOUR event earlier this year at The Honda Classic to qualify for the Masters. |
| 205 |
Michael Campbell |
8 |
MC (eight times) |
N/A |
| Recovered from a shoulder injury suffered last October. The Kiwi has only broken par once at Augusta National. |
| 238 |
Greg Norman |
22 |
2nd (1986, 1987 and 1996) |
N/A |
| Everyone's sentimental favorite showed signs of life at the Shell Houston Open last week. He has the experience to surprise. |
| 242 |
Chez Reavie |
1 |
MC (2002) |
129 |
| His U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship earned his first trip to Augusta National. His first PGA TOUR win brought him back. |
| 373 |
Todd Hamilton |
5 |
T36 (2008) |
| The 2004 British Open champ missed his first four cuts of the year and hasn't finished higher than 39th this season, so don't look for lightning to strike again. |
| 404 |
Bernhard Langer |
26 |
1st (1985 and 1993) |
N/A |
| He's won once and hasn't finished lower than ninth in six Champions Tour events this year - he could surprise. |
| 626 |
Jose Maria Olazabal |
21 |
1st (1994 and 1999) |
N/A |
| His second Masters victory was the last for a European at Augusta National. |
| 909 |
Larry Mize |
25 |
1st (1987) |
N/A |
| Augusta's favorite son is now playing the Champions Tour, where he tied for seventh in his 2009 opener. |
| 949 |
Sandy Lyle |
27 |
1st (1988) |
N/A |
| He's got two top 20s in five starts on the Champions Tour this year. |
| 966 |
Mark O'Meara |
25 |
1st (1998) |
N/A |
| A pair of ties for second on the Champions Tour this year show the man still has game. |
| 982 |
Ian Woosnam |
20 |
1st (1991) |
N/A |
| Less than a month after turning 50 last year, the wee Welshman made the cut at Augusta National and finished 44th. |
| N/A |
Ben Crenshaw |
37 |
1st (1984 and 1995) |
N/A |
| He's tied for third and fourth in two of his last three starts on the Champions Tour. |
| N/A |
Raymond Floyd |
44 |
1st (1976) |
N/A |
| He hasn't played competitively since last year's Del Webb Father-Son Challenge. |
| N/A |
Drew Kittleson |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The Florida State sophomore got to pick Phil Mickelson's brain in a practice round and is soaking up the atmosphere in the Crow's Nest. |
| N/A |
Jack Newman |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| The U.S. Amateur Public Links champ's Masters debut may make Michigan State's NCAA Tournament loss easier to take. |
| N/A |
Gary Player |
51 |
1st (1961, 1974 and 1978) |
N/A |
| This will be the diminutive South African's final Masters - watch him play and remember. |
| N/A |
Reinier Saxton |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Saxton, whose father is an American golf pro who moved to The Netherlands, earned his spot when he became the second Dutchman to win the British Amateur. |
| N/A |
Craig Stadler |
32 |
1st (1982) |
N/A |
| The Walrus, an eight-time winner on the Champions Tour, has made the cut twice in the four years since he turned 50. |
| N/A |
Tom Watson |
35 |
1st (1977 and 1981) |
N/A |
| The two-time Masters champ has played sparingly this year, but he'll still burn to compete this week. |
| N/A |
Steve Wilson |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
| This former pro, who owns a gas station in Mississippi, turned pro out of college but regained his amateur status. His U.S. Mid-Am win got him a date with Tiger Woods in Round 1. |
| N/A |
Fuzzy Zoeller |
30 |
1st (1979) |
N/A |
| The affable pro will be making his final Masters appearance and remains, along with inaugural champ Horton Smith, one of the only players to win his Masters debut. |
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