Southern California's No. 1 Golf Source
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"The players themselves can be classified into two groups- the attractions and the entry fees." |
-Jimmy Demaret |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
People
|
||||
 Just about all of those eyes also will be watching world No. 2 Phil Mickelson to see if he can garner his third Green Jacket in five years. The duel between the Southland natives may be front and center, but three other competitors with regional ties should figure prominently in this season's first major, too. The Favorite Since turning professional, the longest stretch Woods has gone without a Masters title is three years. The four-time champ has traversed Augusta National twice since he holed the chip heard 'round the world on No. 16 and beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff in 2005 - so by his standards, he's clearly due. The fact that Woods did not win the WGC-CA Championship could be a blessing in disguise. It's difficult to pinpoint a facet of his game that's better in '08, but one thing is certain: He's more experienced. You can bet he's made the practice green his second home since he struggled to 32 putts during his third round at Doral, and you can bet he'll be a factor come Sunday. Odds of winning - 5:2 The No. 2 Contender Let's not forget it was only two years ago when there was talk of a Grand Slam for Mickelson. The Rancho Santa Fe resident validated his 2004 Green Jacket with another in 2006, and it will be interesting to see how he approaches The Masters with Butch Harmon - Woods' former coach - at his side. The problem for Mickelson is still Woods. While Lefty's finishes in 2008 events featuring his foil have been respectable - including a tie for sixth at the Buick Invitational - he's yet to challenge Woods for a crown. Mickelson will always have a well of talent, but he's turning 38 this June. He's got to make a run. Odds of winning - 8:1 The Rookie Technically, Hunter Mahan isn't a Masters rookie - the Orange native played in 2003 thanks to his runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur a year earlier. He did great, finishing tied for 28th. Obviously, the stakes are different now. Mahan has a PGA Tour win under his belt and strong results in his most recent majors: Last year, he finished tied for sixth at the British Open and tied for 18th at the PGA Championship. Statistically, Mahan has been one of the tour's best ball-strikers this season, but he is outside the top 100 in putting. If he gets hot with the flat stick, watch out. Odds of winning - 50:1 The Veteran If Fred Couples makes the cut at this year's Masters - like he has every other year - he'll break Gary Player's record of 24 consecutive weekends at Augusta. The La Quinta transplant and 1992 champion should not be discounted just because he's a little bit older and more fragile. Couples had the first-round lead at Bay Hill this year and compiled four solid rounds at Torrey Pines to tie for eighth at the Buick Invitational. And, less than two years away from his 50th birthday, Boom Boom is among the PGA Tour leaders in driving distance. Odds of winning - 100:1 The Decade Anniversary It's been 10 years since Mark O'Meara seized the 1998 Masters. Another major followed at the British Open that summer, and the former Mission Viejo resident suddenly went from being one of the best players in the world without a major to an international superstar. While O'Meara's best chances to win at Augusta may be behind him, I'm sure he'll have plenty of great memories when he tees it up. Odds of winning - 250:1 |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
