It's Masters time again

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 US Masters | Preview | 08 Apr 2008

It’s that time of year again when the juices of every red blooded golfer worldwide begin to flow at the prospect of the drama of yet another Masters Tournament being played out at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Much of the talk in 2008 revolves around the prospect of Tiger Woods winning his fifth “Green Jacket” and claiming the first leg of a potential Grand Slam but although Woods has made a brilliant start to the year and is the most likely winner, there are several others who will consider themselves genuine challengers for the title.

Augusta National has had a year comparatively free of the significant course changes of previous years. The inclusion of a new pin position in the back of the 7th and the softening of one of the middle pin positions at the 9th hole are the most significant although several trees alongside the right hand side of the 11th are also gone and a few yards have been added to the tee at the 10th to provide flexibility in the tee positions. Most of the other changes are to assist spectators rather than alter the playing characteristics of the golf course.

This year’s Masters promises to be something very special, not only because of the speculation about what Woods might achieve but because the chances for victory extend well beyond the pre-conceived notion of many who believe he is unbeatable. Woods can be beaten at Augusta, as has been proven in four of the last five years, but whether he will in 2008 is the perhaps the greatest intrigue this week.

Woods arrives at Augusta off the back of four wins and one 5th place finish in his five starts in 2008 and with six top five placings in his last eight starts at Augusta there is every reason to believe that another win is the most likely result although not guaranteed

His caddie Steve Williams said in an interview last week that his boss’ amazing and improving distance control is arguably the strength of his game and, at Augusta, knowing how far to hit it and being able to do it when you have to is one of the keys to success.

I think there are several other players who deserve, if not as much consideration, then at least some in terms of winning chances.

Phil Mickelson has had a brilliantly consistent record at Augusta during the last ten years. Mickelson is struggling a little with his putting at present, which is a concern heading to Augusta but if he can turn that around he could take it to Tiger. He has won twice in his last four visits to Augusta but he has also been third on four occasions in earlier years and must be a chance. He appears to be peaking for this week.

Vijay Singh is another with a brilliant record at Augusta with ten top ten finishes including his 2000 victory in his last 13 visits. He has found some good form of late including when runner up to Ogilvy at Doral and has a great chance of extending his very good record.

Geoff Ogilvy arrives at Augusta this year as arguably Australia’s greatest chance of taking the green jacket this century. His lead up form has been all but faultless and with two solid tournaments at Augusta behind him now he is better placed to contend than ever before. He challenged briefly last year in round three before a quadruple bogey at the 15th hole but he will have learned from that experience and has every reason to believe a good week lies ahead.

There are too many questions marks about Adam Scott’s health, his very average record at both Augusta and his performance in majors generally to be convinced of his chances this week. His putting has improved significantly in 2008, which will be necessary if he is to do well but the health hiccup last week came at just the wrong time.

Justin Rose has made the cut in each of his three Masters appearances. He finished a very impressive 5th last year. He has played only a limited amount of events this year but his form has been very good when he has played and, although he has yet to win a PGA Tour event, it would not be the greatest of surprises for him to make the Masters his first.

The very solid build up to Augusta by Padraig Harrington has caught the eye, especially as one of the game’s best putters. He has been very consistent in 2008 and as now as a proven major winner there is no reason why he can’t improve his record at Augusta where he has been twice inside the top ten.

Luke Donald has played just three times at Augusta but his third on debut in 2005 was full of merit and he finished 10th last year suggesting that the Augusta layout suits his game. He has played well this year, more especially when third at the Riviera tournament and runner up at the Honda. There is a lot to like about his chances of another good week especially given his great putting skills.

Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Retief Goosen stand a chance of another great tournament as they had when winner and joint runners up last year respectively and for some real outside value it might be worth keeping an eye on the proven Augusta veterans, Fred Couples and Jose Maria Olazabal and South African Tim Clark.

Of the Australians other than Ogilvy and Scott, Appleby appears the most likely to do well after his best ever Augusta showing in 2007 when he led into the final round before finishing 7th. Appleby started the 2008 season in great style and while he has not played quite as well in recent weeks, he has played this event more than any other Australian in the field and that experience, if he can get his game back on track, will be of great value.

The other Australians in the field have all done well to qualify to be in this very elite field but it hard to imagine any one of them challenging on Sunday.

Aaron Baddeley has some chance of a good week but for Robert Allenby, Nick O’Hern and Peter Lonard they have all been to Augusta before without showing much while for John Senden and Richard Green they will be all the better for having gone through their debuts in 2008.

New Zealander Michael Campbell has not made the cut in seven times to Augusta and given his horror year to date in 2008 things are unlikely to get any better in this year.

If a golf fan isn’t excited about what lies ahead at Augusta this week he needs to have his or her pulse checked.