(1-1) Tiger Woods...Considering the way he's playing, Tiger is the odds on favorite to get his 5th green jacket..I really see no reason why it doesn't happen this year..Especially considering the way his nearest rivals are playing this season. The fact that he didn't win it last year combined with Tiger losing his last tournament only adds fuel to the fire..
(4-1) The Europeans...Considering how average that most of the Americans are playing right now, the Europeans have their best chance this year to break through. Padraig Harrington likes to play himself into majors shape by playing the tournaments two weeks prior to each major. It worked well for him last year in getting his first major..With his short game and putting ability I see no reason why he can't compete at Augusta. Lee Westwood has already had two runnerup finishes in Europe. They say he's beginning to get back to his old self when in 2000 he had 7 wins worldwide and was ranked number one on the European Order Of Merit..He's also worked with weights for the first time in his career and has added another 20 yards onto his drives this season..Which will be a plus at Augusta. He's had a couple top 20 finishes in the U.S. and appears to be rounding nicely into form..Of all the Europeans, this is the player I'll be watching the closest..I just have a gut feeling that he'll be a threat to Tiger this week. Paul Casey..One of the most talented young guns from Europe..I would have preferred to see him playing better coming into this tournament..Three missed cuts and only one top 10. But still a very dangerous player when he gets things going. Luke Donald..Another talented player. He can't seem to get over the hump in Amercia. But he was ranked in the top 10 in the world through all of last year. And has played very well this year with a couple top 10 finishes. And has a 69 and change scoring average on tour in 08. A threat anywhere. I think the best thing the Europeans could hope for is the kind of bad weather they had last year at Augusta. The bad weather keeps Tiger from bombing the fairway doglegs, and brings the rest of the field into play. There are chances of rain expected for Friday and Saturday..If the nasty stuff comes in, then my odds on the Europeans winning go down to (3-1)
(5-1) The Aussies...I would have set the odds lower for this group if there was more of them that were a real threat to Tiger..But basically there are only 3 that I would worry about. And that is Adam Scott The Auusie with the same swing as Tiger..But seems to fold under pressure in the big tournaments..He has to get over that hump before I can seriously consider him over Tiger..Plus he hasn't showed me yet that he has the short game of Tiger...Stuart Appleby..A player who is flying a little under the radar with 5 top 10 finishes out of 8 tournaments played..He's averaging 69.89 a round on tour. He's got the game to get it done..I think it's just a matter of time before this player wins a major..Geoff Ogilvy..You have to like him more than the rest of the Aussies. And considering how he has been playing this year, he would have to be the odds on favorite over the rest of the field to knock off Tiger. But I get the feeling this is the kind of player who is more suited for a tough grind it out U.S.Open style course than trying to match Tiger shot for shot on the par 5's. But he's playing so good right now that he'll be a threat on any course under any condition.
(7-1) The rest of the World..I'm basically looking at just two players in this group..But both could be a real threat..Vijay Singh..This is another player besides Tiger who is overdue to win this tournament again for the third time..He's changed his swing a little this year, and it appears like it's starting to pay off. The only thing I always question about Singh is his putting. He's got the rest of the game..How his putting goes so goes his success at the Masters..K.J. Choi...This is another player I'll be closely watching this week. He ranks in the top 10 on tour on the par 4's this year..And as good as Tiger is on the par 5's, he's a less than stellar 24 over in his career on Augusta's par 4's. So if these two play their games like they should, they could very well be matched up against each other on Sunday..I believe that Choi has the talent and temperment to win a major. I think his best chance will be at the Masters or the U.S. Open..
(8-1) The Americans..I just don't feel that any of the Americans are playing well enough to beat Tiger straight up..Stewart Cink would probably have to be given the best chance..This player could have won alot of tournaments in his career if he didn't have to play on Sunday..If he should get in the final group with Tiger like he did the Matchplay Championship, he'll probably wilt again. His best chance is to have a sizeable lead on the last day and hold on..And to not get paired with Tiger..Steve Stricter..When this player has things going and gets zoned out, he can be a birdie machine that even Tiger could have problems with..It's just a matter of if he can pull things together..A dangerous player in my opinion..And somebody else I'll be keeping a close eye on. Phil Mickelson..You always have to count Mickelson among the top 3 favorites for this tournament. If for no other reason than he has an eye for this course. Anybody who has won the Masters twice at his young of age is probably destined to win it again. It's just a matter of time..If Tiger wasn't playing so well this year, I would consider Mickelson at lower odds..I just don't feel like this is his year..Jim Furyk...Is starting to play well. And with his short game ability will always be a threat around the greens..But I feel like his deliberate grind it out style is more suited for a U.S. Open type of course than Augusta. Inclimate weather would move this player up. Fred Couples..He's 48 years old, but the way he's playing right now it's not beyond the realm of possiblility that he can win this tournament..Judging by some of his 300 yard drives last week, he still has the length..And he's another player who has an eye for this course, and always plays well at Augusta..Zac Johnson..I only put him in because he is the defending champion..But I really don't give him much of a chance this week..Inclimate weather would move up his odds..But I'm not sure he's playing as good coming into this tournament as he was last year..Plus he's a little like Mike Weir, who won this tournament a few years ago..He really doesn't have the length to attack the par 5's. Last year he laid up, but his short game was so good that week that he was actually 2 better under par on the par 5's than Tiger..Mainly due to the bad weather conditions..I consider Johnson and Weir one-trick ponies that probably won't win this tournament again unless the conditions fall just right for them.. Justin Leonard...He's got 4 top 10 finishes this year. And he's the only player to rank in the top 10 in both driving accuracy and putting. Which are both huge at Augusta..He's got to hope for fast and firm conditions this week..Kind of like what he had in winning the British Open a few years ago..If the conditions are right, he'll be a bigtime threat to Tiger. He can grind it out with the best of them...The Young Guns..There are too many to list Nick Watney, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and J.B.Holmes all come to mind. But with their lack of Masters experience I just don't see any of these players there in the end.
This is one year that I'll actually be very surprised if Tiger loses..The way he is playing I expect him to take at least 2 majors this season..And I believe his best chance is at the Masters.
(4-1) The Europeans...Considering how average that most of the Americans are playing right now, the Europeans have their best chance this year to break through. Padraig Harrington likes to play himself into majors shape by playing the tournaments two weeks prior to each major. It worked well for him last year in getting his first major..With his short game and putting ability I see no reason why he can't compete at Augusta. Lee Westwood has already had two runnerup finishes in Europe. They say he's beginning to get back to his old self when in 2000 he had 7 wins worldwide and was ranked number one on the European Order Of Merit..He's also worked with weights for the first time in his career and has added another 20 yards onto his drives this season..Which will be a plus at Augusta. He's had a couple top 20 finishes in the U.S. and appears to be rounding nicely into form..Of all the Europeans, this is the player I'll be watching the closest..I just have a gut feeling that he'll be a threat to Tiger this week. Paul Casey..One of the most talented young guns from Europe..I would have preferred to see him playing better coming into this tournament..Three missed cuts and only one top 10. But still a very dangerous player when he gets things going. Luke Donald..Another talented player. He can't seem to get over the hump in Amercia. But he was ranked in the top 10 in the world through all of last year. And has played very well this year with a couple top 10 finishes. And has a 69 and change scoring average on tour in 08. A threat anywhere. I think the best thing the Europeans could hope for is the kind of bad weather they had last year at Augusta. The bad weather keeps Tiger from bombing the fairway doglegs, and brings the rest of the field into play. There are chances of rain expected for Friday and Saturday..If the nasty stuff comes in, then my odds on the Europeans winning go down to (3-1)
(5-1) The Aussies...I would have set the odds lower for this group if there was more of them that were a real threat to Tiger..But basically there are only 3 that I would worry about. And that is Adam Scott The Auusie with the same swing as Tiger..But seems to fold under pressure in the big tournaments..He has to get over that hump before I can seriously consider him over Tiger..Plus he hasn't showed me yet that he has the short game of Tiger...Stuart Appleby..A player who is flying a little under the radar with 5 top 10 finishes out of 8 tournaments played..He's averaging 69.89 a round on tour. He's got the game to get it done..I think it's just a matter of time before this player wins a major..Geoff Ogilvy..You have to like him more than the rest of the Aussies. And considering how he has been playing this year, he would have to be the odds on favorite over the rest of the field to knock off Tiger. But I get the feeling this is the kind of player who is more suited for a tough grind it out U.S.Open style course than trying to match Tiger shot for shot on the par 5's. But he's playing so good right now that he'll be a threat on any course under any condition.
(7-1) The rest of the World..I'm basically looking at just two players in this group..But both could be a real threat..Vijay Singh..This is another player besides Tiger who is overdue to win this tournament again for the third time..He's changed his swing a little this year, and it appears like it's starting to pay off. The only thing I always question about Singh is his putting. He's got the rest of the game..How his putting goes so goes his success at the Masters..K.J. Choi...This is another player I'll be closely watching this week. He ranks in the top 10 on tour on the par 4's this year..And as good as Tiger is on the par 5's, he's a less than stellar 24 over in his career on Augusta's par 4's. So if these two play their games like they should, they could very well be matched up against each other on Sunday..I believe that Choi has the talent and temperment to win a major. I think his best chance will be at the Masters or the U.S. Open..
(8-1) The Americans..I just don't feel that any of the Americans are playing well enough to beat Tiger straight up..Stewart Cink would probably have to be given the best chance..This player could have won alot of tournaments in his career if he didn't have to play on Sunday..If he should get in the final group with Tiger like he did the Matchplay Championship, he'll probably wilt again. His best chance is to have a sizeable lead on the last day and hold on..And to not get paired with Tiger..Steve Stricter..When this player has things going and gets zoned out, he can be a birdie machine that even Tiger could have problems with..It's just a matter of if he can pull things together..A dangerous player in my opinion..And somebody else I'll be keeping a close eye on. Phil Mickelson..You always have to count Mickelson among the top 3 favorites for this tournament. If for no other reason than he has an eye for this course. Anybody who has won the Masters twice at his young of age is probably destined to win it again. It's just a matter of time..If Tiger wasn't playing so well this year, I would consider Mickelson at lower odds..I just don't feel like this is his year..Jim Furyk...Is starting to play well. And with his short game ability will always be a threat around the greens..But I feel like his deliberate grind it out style is more suited for a U.S. Open type of course than Augusta. Inclimate weather would move this player up. Fred Couples..He's 48 years old, but the way he's playing right now it's not beyond the realm of possiblility that he can win this tournament..Judging by some of his 300 yard drives last week, he still has the length..And he's another player who has an eye for this course, and always plays well at Augusta..Zac Johnson..I only put him in because he is the defending champion..But I really don't give him much of a chance this week..Inclimate weather would move up his odds..But I'm not sure he's playing as good coming into this tournament as he was last year..Plus he's a little like Mike Weir, who won this tournament a few years ago..He really doesn't have the length to attack the par 5's. Last year he laid up, but his short game was so good that week that he was actually 2 better under par on the par 5's than Tiger..Mainly due to the bad weather conditions..I consider Johnson and Weir one-trick ponies that probably won't win this tournament again unless the conditions fall just right for them.. Justin Leonard...He's got 4 top 10 finishes this year. And he's the only player to rank in the top 10 in both driving accuracy and putting. Which are both huge at Augusta..He's got to hope for fast and firm conditions this week..Kind of like what he had in winning the British Open a few years ago..If the conditions are right, he'll be a bigtime threat to Tiger. He can grind it out with the best of them...The Young Guns..There are too many to list Nick Watney, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and J.B.Holmes all come to mind. But with their lack of Masters experience I just don't see any of these players there in the end.
This is one year that I'll actually be very surprised if Tiger loses..The way he is playing I expect him to take at least 2 majors this season..And I believe his best chance is at the Masters.
