ESPN 2009 Masters

The truth is, unless TW royally bombed at Bay Hill, he was going to top this list. Winning that tournament, however, propelled him to, once again, prohibitive favorite status.

A check of his first three starts this season shows that he's done everything well at some point; he drove the ball great in Tucson, hit his irons great at Doral and displayed a great short game at Bay Hill. If he puts it all together at Augusta, he'll win by 10.

Easier said than done, of course. And remember: Though Woods owns four career green jackets, he's won only one in his last six attempts. Moral of the story? Yes, he's the pick to win, but no, he's hardly a lock.

I pinkie-swear this is the truth: Even before Casey earned his first victory on U.S. soil at the Shell Houston Open last week, he was going to be the No. 3 man on this list. With three finishes of 11th or better in four career Masters starts, he knows this is a tournament he can win -- and soon.

"I love the Masters," Casey said. "I feel it's my best opportunity at a major. The golf course sets up very well for me."

With a win in Abu Dhabi and runner-up at the WGC-Match Play, he's obviously playing some very solid golf right now. It was more than a little interesting that within minutes of clinching the win in Houston, Casey noted that Phil Mickelson and Sandy Lyle are among those to triumph in the week before Augusta and then prevail there, too.

He might just add his own name to that list.

He's been in contention on three separate occasions in the final round this season ... and come up with a second, third and fourth place for his troubles. OK, so Stricker might not be a closer, but that doesn't mean he can't contend this week, too.

The Wisconsin native is known as a strong putter, but it's another component of his game that makes him such a heady selection. Stricker ranks second on the PGA Tour in scrambling -- a byproduct of solid putting, of course -- which is always important on this course.

Whether he's playing well in advance or just starting to maneuver his game into a position where he can contend, it seems that Goosen is always in his best form when heading to Augusta.

In 2002, he won the BellSouth Classic in the preceding week, then finished solo second, 3 shots behind Woods. In 2005, he posted a pair of top-5s in the month leading up to a T-3 result.

The next year, he was second at the Players Championship and T-4 at the BellSouth before again taking a share of third at the Masters. One year later, he was still riding high off a victory at the Qatar Masters when he finished in a tie for second. And last year, he parlayed a T-2 at Doral, in his final start before the year's first major, into a T-17 at the tournament.

This time around? Goosen just recently won the Transitions Championship, meaning another strong finish here is a strong possibility.

Anyone who can finish T-8 in his debut turn around Augusta National -- as Romero did a year ago -- has plenty of game. Last season's PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has only one finish of better than 32nd in 2009 (a T-3 at Riviera), but tends to play his best golf in big events, as evidenced by four career top-10s in only eight major starts.

The Argentine tends to make lots of birdies and lots of "others," making him one of the most exciting players to keep an eye on.

He's not just a world-class golfer; Cink is now offering some of the best golf content on the Internet, thanks to his personal Twitter account.

In the past week alone, the five-time PGA Tour champ has issued posts about course conditions ("In my opinion, the course is so wet right now that it will be a miracle for it to be playing fast by Thursday"), course changes ("When the club rebuilds greens, they generally soften the slopes, due to ever-increasing green speeds. This year [is] no different") and even the clubhouse fare ("They also have a MEAN chopped ribeye steak in the grill!!!").

Cink could become the first Masters champ to Tweet about his victory before ever making it to Butler Cabin.

Mr. Consistency has had some 'splaining to do, caused by a recent bout of soaring scores. Three weeks ago, after claiming sole possession of the opening-round lead at the Transitions Championship, Furyk ballooned to a 78 the next day, making the cut on the number. It was his first total that high since a 79 at the 2007 Wachovia Championship -- a span of 156 rounds.

It only took three rounds for him to reach such heights again, though, as he followed with another 78 in the opening round at Bay Hill. He's still a solid candidate to contend for the green jacket, but those scores are certainly worrisome.

Still one month shy of his 20th birthday, the kid from Holywood -- Northern Ireland, that is; and yes, just one "l" -- owns a poised, powerful swing that has already helped him rise to No. 17 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

What is he most looking forward to in his debut trip to the Masters?

"Loads of things," he said. "The drive up Magnolia Lane, walking out of the back of the clubhouse and seeing the 18th green, ninth green, first tee box ... obviously Amen Corner. Yeah, everything. It's going to be great."

Now would be a good time to mention that it's been 30 years since an Augusta rookie (Fuzzy Zoeller) took the title. Boy Wonder has his heart set on snapping that drought.

The final-round loss at the hands of TW might sting for awhile, but with a solo second and three other top-10s this year, he's still playing some quality golf.

Since winning here in 2003, the little lefty from Canada has finished 20th or better on four of five occasions.

If this was a sweetest-swing contest, poor Jeev Milkha would be languishing somewhere between Jim Furyk and Charles Barkley on this list. Instead, his unorthodox move finds him hitting more fairways and greens than most of his peers.

You know what you're getting from Leonard, who has finished between seventh and 39th in 11 of his 13 Masters starts, missing the cut only twice.

Don't sleep on The Scientist. Last year's Euro Tour Order of Merit winner was buoyed by top-20 results in all four majors in 2008.

Last year marked the end of an era. After making the cut in each of his first 23 starts at Augusta -- which included a victory in 1992, runner-up in '98, T-3 in '06 and seven other top-10s -- Couples failed to reach the weekend by a single stroke.

At three years older than Jack Nicklaus was in 1986, Boom Boom might not be considered a legit contender anymore, but he's still got some game, as evidenced by a T-3 in Houston last week. On a course where experience trumps other skills, Freddie can never be counted out.

Tied with Woods for the most consecutive number of cuts made on the PGA Tour (32), the Aussie actually is just 5-for-9 at the Masters, with a best result of T-22 three years ago.

No stranger to red numbers, Trahan is currently tied for the PGA Tour lead in total birdies (146) and eighth in birdie average.

Two years ago, he raced to a share of the opening-round lead with a 3-under 69, but finished 75-75-73 for a share of fifth place. He's never missed the cut in four career Masters starts.

He's establishing himself as one of the better ball-strikers on the PGA Tour, but Goggin's bugaboo has been putting -- and it won't get any easier this week.

Will the real AK please stand up? Just six months ago, Kim was the Next Big Thing after a season in which he won two events and was one of many Ryder Cup heroes for the U.S. team.

After beginning this season with a T-2 at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, though, it's been a struggle for Kim, who has suffered both injury and illness while competing in more global events.

"I feel like I'm doing a good job of hanging in there, because it has been frustrating," he said earlier this week. "I think I'm just starting to find my golf swing and my golf game. I'm just trying to stay as patient as possible, even though it's very tough."

Like Tom Petty sings ... the waiting is the hardest part. Well, we've been waiting for Scott to develop into a major champion -- or a contender, at the very least -- for years. But he's only seemed to regress.

In 31 career major starts, he owns only four top-10 results. And in seven previous Masters appearances, he's MC'd only once. But since finishing T-9 in his debut performance in 2002, the Aussie hasn't fared better than T-23. The 28-year-old has one of the game's sweetest swings, but the results -- especially in big events -- have been unendingly disappointing.

If it's all about attitude, then this Masters first-timer is already leading the pack.

"I think I'm going to enjoy the whole week," he said, "whether I play good or bad."

Though he's better known for losing 9-and-8 to Woods at the 2005 Match Play than winning the next year's Players Championship, Ames is a solid ball-striker who has never missed a cut at this event.

This week's ideal story line would have the Great White Shark battling for a Masters title on Sunday, just as he did at Royal Birkdale last year before finishing T-3.

This guy has more demons than Augusta National has azaleas, from losing to Mize in 1987 to faltering in the final round in '96. With son Gregory on the bag, expect the big story to come on Friday, not Sunday, as Norman attempts to make the cut in his first appearance since 2002.

Will it happen? The top 44 (and ties) reach the weekend and, well, you see that number before Norman's name. I say he misses by a single stroke.

So excited to make his Masters debut at age 40, Duke said, "I'll probably take a picture of myself, just to make sure that I'm really there."

Let's hope he took care of that during the practice rounds. Like those behind the gallery ropes, players also aren't allowed to have phones, PDAs or -- you reading, Ken? -- cameras on the course once play has begun.

You know you want to see it. Boo Weekley, golf's ultimate country bumpkin, wearing a green jacket and turning this place upside-down. The victory speech would be amazing and next year's Champions Dinner would be frightful. (He would hunt for the dinner, no doubt.)

Prior to his Masters debut last year, Weekley claimed, "It's all about the history, and I'm not a history guy." Reciting history? Not his thing. Making history? Maybe.

After all, this is a guy who showed nerves of steel at the Ryder Cup. And besides, I'm pretty sure no past champ has ever done the bull dance up the 18th fairway before. Feel the flow.

In your best Seinfeld voice, read the following line aloud: What's the deal with Tim Clark?

Back in 2006, when the course was playing into the hands of longer hitters, the pea-shooting South African finished solo second behind Mickelson. The past two years, Augusta National has been more tailored to those who place a premium on accuracy. Right up Timmy's alley, right?

Well, yes ... and yet he hasn't been able to contend on the weekend, finishing T-13 (after holding a share of the 36-hole lead) and MC in those tourneys.

Recently reunited with longtime junior golf instructor Dale Lynch, the erstwhile stack-and-tilter needs all the help he can get, with no finishes of better than 10th in the past 51 weeks.

Lefty enjoyed a wild ride up the leaderboard last year, finishing in a career-best share of fifth place.

Just 24, the Germany native has established himself as one of the top up-and-comers in the world.

Blame Tiger, but when Vijay underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Jan. 14, it was only the second most talked about knee reparation in golf over the past year. He returned just three weeks later, but his game has been slow to heal.

In six events since the surgery, Singh lost in the second round of the Match Play, finished T-53 at Doral and T-59 at Bay Hill, and missed the cut three times. It's tough to imagine a scenario in which he breaks out of the slump and seriously contends for the title this week.

They call him the "Swedish Redneck," but really Pettersson more closely resembles Uter from "The Simpsons."

Sabo was bitten by The Curse last year. No, not the one which states you don't talk smack to Tiger Woods; he won the Par-3 Contest, which has never seen its champion also claim the green jacket.

He'll battle Kjeldsen for low-Soren honors, but has already clinched low-Hansen/Hanson, with Anders and Peter not in the field.

Masters fact: No champion has ever had a ponytail. If the Mechanic wins, victory cigars for everybody!

The diminutive South African has already enjoyed a solid season, winning in back-to-back European Tour starts.

Excellent ball-striker is returning for the first time since a T-33 in 2003.

Last season's PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year is coming back to Augusta for the first time since 2001.

Since 1998, has gone two years in, two years out at the Masters, but breaks that string this week after missing just last year's edition.

It speaks to both the global vision and a nod toward the forethought of tournament organizers that the lone player to receive a special invitation doesn't just hail from Japan; he's also 17 years old.

Playing in the final year of his five-year exemption for winning the British Open.

A regular on the Asian Tour, he won earlier this season by defeating Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari in a playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole.

The best French restaurant in Augusta? Nice try. Chez Reavie is actually a guy in the field, based on his Canadian Open win last summer.

"There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to go there and have a good tournament," says the past champion, who now competes primarily on the senior circuit. "I know I'm a little bit older and the course is a different golf course than when I played in '98, but the golf ball really doesn't know how old you are."

Maybe not, but in three dozen career Champions Tour appearances, he's still searching for that elusive first victory, though he has pulled six runner-up finishes.

Nearly nine months after injuring his shoulder in an airport baggage carousel incident (lift with your legs, kids), the 2005 U.S. Open champ is still battling back. He says he finally feels healthy, but his swing remains bedridden.

In his first nine practice rounds at Augusta National, the reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion never broke 75. Of course, that was before the greens firmed up.

For a guy who admittedly struggles with his short game, he could have a rough go of things this week. Then again, for a gas station owner from Mississippi, he's still living the dream.

Does a promised weekend stint as guest Golf Channel analyst reek of pessimism? Perhaps, but here's guessing he'd give up the gig in a hurry if he was playing 36 more holes.

Thirty years after winning a green jacket in his initial attempt here at Augusta, Fuzzy will hang up the spikes following this week's tourney, spurred on by this question from Arnold Palmer a year ago: "What are you doing here?"

"Woosie" best describes (a) Woosnam's nickname; (b) How the Welshman will feel after 36 holes at Augusta; or (c) all of the above? I'll pick (c).