Augusta Masters: The Favourites

The first major of 2012 season kicks off this week at the picturesque Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA. All eyes will be on the old horse Tiger Woods to restart his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 Majors. The renewed enthusiasm among the viewers comes on the back of his first win on PGA Tour in last two years. He beat former masters champion Zach Johnson by a stroke to win the Chevron World Challenge two weeks ago. Adding to the optimism, is his record at this course, where he has performed exceptionally well even during his nightmare years. His worst finish in the last seven years has been tied sixth. But to don the fabled green jacket again, he will have to overcome challenges of the following in-form players (in no particular order).

Rory Mcllroy

Mcllroy and future of golf are always talked in the same breath. He is considered to be the biggest thing to hit the game of golf after Woods himself. Last year, he justified those expectations by destroying the entire field to win his first major at the US Open by eight strokes.

Last year here, it was not a pleasant experience for him. He went into final round with a four shot lead, confident to win his first major. But then, he experienced a spectacular meltdown to finish the final round with score of 80. But, Mcllroy looks at the positives from that experience.

“I learned a lot. I think one of the things I learnt was that as a person and as a golfer, I wasn’t ready to win the Masters; wasn’t ready to win a major. I really needed to think about what I needed to do to improve mentally and in different aspects of my game to get better. I felt like I did that.”

Season Best Finish: Win- Honda Classic

Masters Best Finish- T15 (2011)

Phil Mickelson

It does not matter if he is on wrong side of forty; as long as he is playing at Augusta, he will be one of the contenders; simply because he has a better record at this course than any other player. Spurring him to win will be the fans cheering him around the course. Tiger Woods may be well known golf name, but the ‘Lefty’ is the fans’ favourite.

He also has a win under his belt this season after his victory at AT&T Pebble Beach.

Season Best Finish: Win- AT&T Pebble Beach

Master Best Finish: Win (2004, 06, 10)

Hunter Mahan

The only player with two wins on PGA tour this year, speaks for itself. The world No. 4 goes into the tournament as highest ranked American player after he claimed a victory at the Shell Houston Open. His other victory came at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Season Best Finish: Win- Shell Houston Open, WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Master Best Finish: T8 (2010)

The Other Brits:

Lee Westwood

Everytime a player is christened as ‘best golfer never to win a major’; he inevitably wins that coveted major. It happened with Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and countless others. The talk of the golf town is that Westwood is being added to that bracket of players.

Previously, he has come close on numerous occasions including at the same tournament two years ago when he finished second.

Season Best Finish: 4th- The Honda Classic

Masters Best Finish: 2^nd (2010)

Luke Donald

The official world number one comes to Augusta on the back of win at Transitions Championship. He finished tied at fourth last year and has a game which suits the course, with strong short game. To justify his status as world’s top player, he has to put in magnificent performances at the majors.

Season Best Finish: Win- Transitions Championship

Masters Best Finish: T4 (2011)

Justin Rose

He has led The Masters after the first two rounds, only to fade away on the weekend, but is playing the best golf of his life this year and is no stranger to the spotlight.

Season Best Finish: Win- WGC Cadillac Championship

Masters Best Finish: T5 (2007)

Golf is a strange game – Outsiders are as much the favourites as ‘The Favourites’. So watch out for KJ Choi, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia and Keegan Bradley.