It seems that the golfing world is very fortunate currently - with so many top players on "form" (are these horses?) coming into The Masters it provides for great discussion and what should be a great tournament. Lets take a look at who may be ready to do what their form shows and who may be a big surprise.
Tiger: If I was to say that Tiger WASN'T ready to win at Augusta that would be a big surprise...and I'm not even close to saying that. Though I believe there are some things he and Haney could be doing (the "ultra" rotation of those forearms/elbows) better in his full swing he is doing enough right now to get it done. And most importantly...I think the stat was 60 out of 60 inside of 6 ft. at Bay Hill? Even if we figure that 30 of those are dead tap ins it is an utterly impressive number. How about this one...if he makes an unbelievable 58-60 from that range he doesn't win the tournament. Expect the putting to continue and Tiger to be a force at Augusta.
Geoff Ogilvy: On form and everything you need for Augusta. The Aussie, who works with coach Dale Lynch of the Bann/Lynch duo, always looks so fluid because he swings those arms so well and this relaxed motion will serve him well for years to come (not much to worry about changing Geoff...just don't alter the things you have always done well). Putting is plenty good for the Augusta greens so I give him more than a solid chance.
Phil: Clearly the worst great player of all time Mickelson is an enigma - winner of more than 30 PGA Tour events he is an all time great who goes really bad at times. Very recently he and Butch have done enough to get him out of his ultra steep downswing position and this has helped. We won't be shocked if he wins (or if he decides to tee it up with three 6 irons for that matter) but he is too much of a coin flip for me with that golf swing.
Nick Watney: Butch Harmon must be doing something right (or does he START with great players based on his background and name??) as this is another stud player in his stable. Watney tried to lose to Phil at Doral then found a way to right the ship and then lost anyway. He needs to keep believing in his game and it looks like he is getting there. Good fit overall at Augusta but remember...this is golf, and guys like Nick Watney still only win one out of 20 trips to the rail at best. Not a great percentage if you're trying to pick a winner.
Kenny Perry: Good form...great player over the last two years...game fits the venue...putts well enough...can't really come up with any reason he can't win other than he has never been able to get it done in a major (maybe skipping too many?). Honestly though I don't really believe the "can't get it done in a major" tag line. More likely that he just hasn't had things fall into place on the right week of the year. Someone to consider.
Zach Johnson: Please...I know he's "tough" but a relatively short hitter (putts well, lots of fairways) that can't reach any of the par 5's in two is going to win at The Masters? How could a guy like this ever win at Augusta? Sorry Zach ;>)
Padraig Harrington: I would be the first to say that 3 majors in a row for Padraig would be somewhat impossible but then I would have said that about two in a row...follow this up with the fact that he had a terrible start to '09 and you can forget about the Irishman right? Not so fast my friend...he is, at the moment, fairly quickly rounding into shape and he has a 7th in 2007 and a 5th in 2008 at Augusta to build on. Can you say "Pad Slam"?
Sergio: Great player but it is comical how he could have won recently and moved to #1 in the world...#1 in the world are you kidding...we already have a #1 in the world. That said he has as good a chance as anyone in this group if he finds the putter. Still a big IF as even with all the work Utley has done it still seems he is waiting for the moment he will miss the big putt.
Some others names to keep in mind....
Vijay - can't forget the big man in any tournament.....Sean O'Hair - I don't see Bay Hill as a fold on his part, relativity just came back to bite him after getting big lead.....Rory McIlroy - he looks like the next coming but so have so many others - tons of game and there is something different about him, hmmmm?.....Mike Weir - Stack and Tilt guy worth something and past winners have had a record of winning a second time somewhere down the road.....Retief Goosen - no more belly putter (how could he have gone there?) means a chance at Augusta.
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