2011 Masters: Who has the momentum ... and who doesn't?

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Nick Watney has been a factor all year on the PGA TOUR and comes into this week with plenty of momentum.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Momentum, of course, is a subjective thing to judge. Someone who may be playing well but not producing results could still be feeling confident about his game. Another player may think he's struggling even when he's stringing together a few top-10 finishes.

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Of course, the bottom line is results, so that's what we used to put together the chart below on each professional's momentum level heading into Thursday's start of the Masters.

Even then, not everything is crystal clear. Take reigning U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell, who recorded top-5 finishes in his first two stroke-play events this year on the PGA TOUR but comes off a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard after shooting 80-73. Does he have momentum or not? (We split the difference and listed him as medium momentum.)

Or take Phil Mickelson. He had a couple of early top-10s but went through a four-tournament stretch in which he wasn't in contention on Sunday. He seemed to be getting colder ... then everything changed last weekend at the Shell Houston Open when he rolled to victory. Now the defending Masters champ is considered one of the hottest players on the planet.

Momentum isn't always a determining factor when trying to predict the next Masters champ. In fact, Mickelson had just one top-10 finish in six starts prior to winning last year. And in 2008, Trevor Immelman won after missing the cut in four of his previous eight starts that year.

Yet in 2006, Mickelson won his second Green Jacket after winning the week before in Atlanta and having contended in nearly every other start during the early portion of that season. Obviously, he hopes for a repeat back-to-back performance this week.

If nothing else, you have to like the chances of Nick Watney or Matt Kuchar, two guys who have been in contention practically every time they've teed it up this year. Obviously, their momentum level going into this week is very high.

2011 Masters: Momentum level

A look at each of the 93 professionals going into this week's Masters

ALLENBY, Robert T6 last week in Houston; has made 7 straight cuts; hmmm, maybe he's hot? APPLEBY, Stuart Great stretch starting in mid-February but cooled off with two MCs ATWAL, Arjun Four MCs, one WD in last six TOUR starts BADDELEY, Aaron Won at Riviera, thee other high finishes since mid-February BARNES, Ricky Fourth at Honda Classic but comes off 82-73 to miss cut at Bay Hill BOHN, Jason Just one top-20 in six starts this year; suffered first MC at Bay Hill BYRD, Jonathan Opened season with win, and enters with two straight T20 finishes CABRERA, Angel Does it matter? He missed cut in two previous starts before winning in '09 CASEY, Paul Won on Euro Tour in January; three top-20s in four TOUR starts CEJKA, Alexander Lone top 20 on TOUR came in Jaunary at Bob Hope Classic CHOI, K.J. Has two top-10s in last five starts although missed cut at Transitions CINK, Stewart T11 at Transitions, T12 at Bay Hill in his last two starts CLARK, Tim An elbow injury has sidelined him for more than two months COUPLES, Fred A T7 on the PGA TOUR and a T5 on Champions Tour is his best in 2011 CRANE, Ben Returned last week from a pulled muscle in his back and finished T24 CRENSHAW, Ben Two-time Masters champ has made little noise on Champions Tour in '11 DAY, Jason Lone top 10 came in limited-field season-opener at Hyundai DONALD, Luke Sizzled at Accenture Match Play, and finished T10, T6 in next two starts ELS, Ernie Big difference from last year; no top-10s in seven starts on TOUR this year FISHER, Ross Top 10 in Dubai is lone bright spot; hasn't contended in four TOUR starts FOWLER, Rickie Was eighth in Doral but comes off final-round 78 at Arnold Palmer Inv't FUJITA, Hiroyuki T10 at Honda Classic is only reason he isn't listed as cold FURYK, Jim A month ago, he would've been cold but has shown signs of life in last two starts GARCIA, Sergio Close to being hot; has four top-20s in five PGA and Euro tour starts GLOVER, Lucas Has been a non-factor most of year and comes off MC at Shell Houston Open GOOSEN, Retief Had a T12 at Northern Trust but not much else of note after that HAAS, Bill Was hot in January but now he comes off two consecutive MCs HANSEN, Anders Was T3 in Doral and had a T2 at Dubai on the European Tour HANSON, Peter Had a T2 on Euro Tour and T15 at Transitions but MC at Bay Hill HARRINGTON, Padraig Two top-10s (with a MC in between) in his last three TOUR starts HAVRET, Gregory One top-10 on European Tour not enough to offset three MCs HOFFMAN, Charley Three MCs, no top 10s in 10 TOUR starts this year IKEDA, Yuta Barely visible in five TOUR starts in last two months IMMELMAN, Trevor Would've been cold except for T12 in last start at Bay Hill ISHIKAWA, Ryo Like Ikeda, he hasn't made much noise in his five TOUR starts JIMENEZ, Miguel A. Couple of top 10s this year but nothing recently JOHNSON, Dustin If not for his second at Doral, he'd be coming in cold JOHNSON, Zach Past Masters champ has not produced a top-10 this year KARLSSON, Robert Has played better on Euro Tour than in States this year KAYMER, Martin Won in January, second at Match Play in February but not in contention since KELLY, Jerry Only thing keeping him from being ice-cold is a third at Honda Classic KIM, Anthony T13 in Houston a positive sign but we need to see a little more KIM, Kyung-Tae Has made no ripples in three TOUR starts this year KUCHAR, Matt No TOUR member has more top 10s this season than Kuchar's six LAIRD, Martin Here's his last three TOUR starts -- T10, T5, Win (at Bay Hill) LOVE III, Davis Not much to cheer about other than T9 at Sony Open in January LYLE, Sandy Won for first time in 20 years at a European Seniors event in China MAHAN, Hunter Five top 10s this year, including a T8 at Shell Houston Open MARINO, Steve Two top-5s in last five starts but that T66 at Houston is worrisome McDOWELL, Graeme Started off with three top 10s, but his last two starts? Eh... McILROY, Rory A top 10 at Doral and two others on European Tour? Not too bad MICKELSON, Phil Hard to be any hotter than winning the previous week's event MIZE, Larry Just one top-10 in five Champions Tour starts MOLINARI, Edoardo That T12 at Bay Hill is a step in right direction MOLINARI, Francesco Had a T3 in Doral and another top-10 on European Tour MOORE, Ryan Played well in February but has cooled off slightly since NA, Kevin Two top-10s this year but not competitive in last three TOUR starts OGILVY, Geoff Has returned from cut hand but hasn't been competitive O'HAIR, Sean MC in last two starts and just one round in 60s this year OLAZABAL, Jose Maria Focus is probably more on 2012 Ryder Cup O'MEARA, Mark Three top-10s in four starts on Champions Tour OOSTHUIZEN, Louis Won in S. Africa in January, two top-20s in last two PGA TOUR starts OVERTON, Jeff Last six rounds on TOUR: 75-77-73-73-80-74 PALMER, Ryan Finished fourth at Bob Hope but has lost that momentum PETTERSSON, Carl Hasn't been competitive since a T4 in season opener at Kapalua POINTS, D.A. Can't ignore win at Pebble Beach but pretty cold since then POULTER, Ian Played better at Bay Hill but still couldn't break 70 QUIROS, Alvaro Cold in the States, but he's been hot on European Tour ROSE, Justin Two top-5s in his last two TOUR starts SABBATINI, Rory Won Honda Classic, followed with two decent finishes SCHWARTZEL, Charl Red-hot early on European Tour but has cooled off in States SCOTT, Adam Scott's confidence is high but his results on TOUR have been spotty SINGH, Vijay Had two top-5s in February but his March results aren't as solid SLOCUM, Heath Five missed cuts in last seven TOUR starts SNEDEKER, Brandt So inconsistent with his results -- three top 10s, four MCs STADLER, Craig Nothing impressive in five Champions Tour starts this year STENSON, Henrik Hasn't contended in any TOUR start this year STREELMAN, Kevin Produced a T15 at Doral but has struggled in other starts STRICKER, Steve Definitely heating up after his T4 at Shell Houston Open TOMS, David Two top-5s in last three starts, including a T3 at Bay Hill VAN PELT, Bo Playing better than earlier in year but still nothing great VEGAS, Jhonattan Probably closer to cold but can't ignore than win at Bob Hope VILLEGAS, Camilo Just hasn't made as much noise as other New Breed guys WATNEY, Nick T13 at Transitions was first time he hasn't finished in top 10 WATSON, Bubba Won at Torrey Pines, reached semifinals at Match Play WATSON, Tom Only played once on Champions Tour since February WEIR, Mike Hoping to see the real Weir get competitive again soon WESTWOOD, Lee Plenty of top 20s, no top 20s on either tour this year WILSON, Mark T9 at Arnold Palmer was first top-10 since his two early wins WOODLAND, Gary In three of last four starts, he's finished T6, Win, T13 WOODS, Tiger T10 at Doral, T24 at Bay Hill are good (not great) signs WOOSNAM, Ian Won here 20 years ago, but plays few competitive rounds now YANG, Y.E. Three top 10s in last 6 starts? Hot. Two MCs? Cold. Split the difference

2011 Masters: Amateurs

Six amateurs are in this week's field

CHUNG, David JEONG, Jim KIM, Lion MATSUYAMA, Hideki SMITH, Nathan UIHLEIN, Peter

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