This weekend, ninety-two of the world’s best golfers, will take to the course in the opening Major Championship of the season.
The 2011 PGA Masters will tee off at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club for the 75th time with the hopes of claiming one of the most prestigious prizes in all of Golf, the Green Jacket.
Winning at Augusta is still seen to be the pinnacle of the golfing mountain, much of which comes down to the exclusivity of the event.
The Masters has the smallest field of any of the majors on the PGA Tour, with roughly 40% fewer entrants given the privilege to compete, when compared to the other major championships.
So before the first ball is hit in anger this weekend, let’s break down some of the top contenders, primed to take home this year’s Green Jacket.
Tiger Woods
For the better part of the last decade, Masters predictions have often come down to “Tiger or the field”, a result of Tiger Woods’ unprecedented dominance over the golfing world.
However, in 2011, we all know this isn’t the case anymore.
Speaking purely on his form – and not the much-publicised upheaval in his personal life – Woods is in the midst of his longest-ever form slump.
More than 18 months have passed since his last win on the PGA Tour – the 2009 BMW Championship – and he has looked a shadow of the dominating figure, who took out that event, with an astonishing 19 under par performance.
The question for Woods’ has never been his skills – he has arguable already established himself as the greatest golfer ever – instead it is his mentality that has come under scrutiny.
If Woods is able to find his past greatness at Augusta, nothing will stop him claiming his fifteenth Major title.
Phil Mickelson
The man who for years, seemed destined to toil away in Woods’ shadow, “Lefty” now casts his own shadow over the golfing landscape.
Mickelson currently sits in sixth place on the World Golf Rankings. He also comes to Augusta as the defending champion, winning by 3-strokes in 2010, claiming his fourth major.
Mickelson does have the tendency to be a bit wayward off the tee, however this isn’t always punished at Augusta, certainly not to the extent it is at the other majors.
Mickelson mirrored his preparation from a year ago – competing in the Shell Open – which coupled with his experience and past success at Augusta, should have him amongst the contenders on Sunday.
Martin Kaymer
Although his name isn’t as recognised as Woods or Mickelson, there is no denying Kaymer’s immense quality, which has seen him take the mantle as the world’s number one ranked player.
Kaymer had an unbelievable 2010 season, winning four PGA titles, including the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.
It was his first Major title. He also capped off the season, by leading the European Ryder Cup Team, to a famous victory at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Kaymer has carried his fine run of form into 2011, winning his third Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, and finishing in second place at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
If Kaymer maintains his outstanding play over the weekend, there is no doubt that Kaymer will be well and truly in the mix come Sunday afternoon.
Lee Westwood
Westwood is considered by many to be the best player on the PGA tour, not to have won a Major. He came painstakingly close in 2010, finishing runner-up at The Masters and the British Open.
Westwood’s quality is beyond question; he currently sits second in the world rankings, and has amassed twenty-six titles over his career.
He even briefly reigned supreme as world number one, as he usurped Tiger Woods at the head of the rankings, in October last year.
Yet, Westwood has always suffered to shine in Major play, something that he will be desperate to change this weekend.
If he does, Westwood has a great shot at winning his maiden Major Championship.
Prediction
Tiger Woods will finally return to the winner’s circle this Sunday, and resume his chase of Jack Nicklaus’s record of eighteen Major triumphs.
I believe that, after battling with inconsistency and mental anguish since his tabloid fall from grace, Woods’ will recapture the form that has seen him named PGA Player of the Year on ten occasions.
At his best, Woods’ is still head-and-shoulders above every other person on the planet with a golf club in his hand, and will show it at Augusta.
Not only is Woods a great golfer, but also he is a true champion, and has shown his immense class time and time throughout his career.
As the saying goes, ‘Form is temporary, class is permanent’, and I expect that to shine through once again for Woods as he adds another Green Jacket to his wardrobe.
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