Vijay Singh
Age: 42
Height: 6-2
Weight: 198
Masters record: Won in 2000.
Last year: Tied for sixth.
Key stat: Averaging 31.806 putts per round, ranking 79th.
Strengths: His work ethic. While he says he doesn’t spend as much time on the range as he used to, he’s still tops in that category. Singh is terrific off the tee. He also has the confidence of being No. 1. It has elevated his game to another level.
Weaknesses: When Singh struggles, the putter usually is the culprit. When Singh went through a slow period in February, it was because he couldn’t get the ball in the hole. Singh switches putters often.
Why Singh will win: The No. 1 player in the world wants to back up his ranking.
Why Singh won’t win: Still smarting from blowing chances to win at the Honda and Bay Hill.
THE QUOTE: “I’m pretty comfortable with the position I’m in. I don’t have any worries. I’m enjoying my game right now. I’m here at the Masters, best player in the world right now and ready to go win another one. What can be better?”
Tiger Woods
Age: 29
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Masters record: Won in 1997, 2001, 2002.
Last year: Tied for 22nd.
Key stat: Hit 57.4 percent of fairways off the tee, ranking 152nd.
Strengths: Nobody in golf has the ability to will himself to victory more than Woods. Even when his game is off, he still has the drive to get it done. His phenomenal short game makes up for a lot of his mistakes. Woods rarely fails in the clutch.
Weaknesses: Woods’ inability to keep drives in the fairway continues to be his downfall. Woods may be a magician, but even he can’t make birdies from the trees. Also, Woods has lost the intimidation factor that helped make him so dominant during his run. His game is respected but not feared.
Why Woods will win this week: He has gone 10 straight majors without a title. He’s due.
Why Woods won’t win this week: His swing makeover still isn’t complete.
THE QUOTE: “Last year I was just hoping to put myself in contention with a short game and putting. This year I know that my ball-striking is there. It’s in me.”
Ernie Els
Age: 35
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Masters record: Five straight top-5 finishes, including runner-up in 2000 and 2004.
Last year: Second.
Key stat: Hits 73.9 percent of greens in regulation, ranking second.
Strengths: Owner of the smoothest swing in golf. Every player would love to copy Els’ effortless style. They also would love to have Els’ complete game. He does everything well. There’s a reason why he has won 55 events worldwide.
Weaknesses: With so many close calls in majors in recent years, critics are starting to wonder if Els lacks the ability to close the deal. While he has won three majors in his career, he has only won one, the 2002 British Open, since 1997. He needs to step up more in crunch time.
Why Els will win: It’s his turn to win the green jacket.
Why Els won’t win: He could be another Greg Norman, another golfer never destined to wear green.
THE QUOTE: “I’ve had a very good career up to now here, but winning is the ultimate and it has not quite happened.”
Phil Mickelson
Age: 34
Height: 6-2
Weight: The press guide lists him at 190, but Mickelson acknowledges he’s between 210 and 220.
Masters record: Hasn’t finished lower than third since 2001.
Last year: Won title.
Key stat: Scoring average is 69.08, leading the PGA Tour.
Strengths: Thinks he has found the formula to maximize his game, and it’s hard to argue with the results. The difference has been in his improvement on shots from 150 yards in. He turned that area from a weakness to a strength. Mickelson is playing the best golf of his career, and he’s hungry for more.
Weaknesses: Mickelson still enjoys going for broke, and occasionally he goes broke. Also, he needs to keep the ball in the fairway off the tee.
Why Mickelson will win: He’s the hottest player in the game. Why stop now?
Why Mickelson won’t win: No matter how good you are, it’s always difficult to repeat.
THE QUOTE: “Here at Augusta, I go at it as hard as I can. In fact, I probably don’t ever swing harder than I do at Augusta because it is a very long golf course and it is such an advantage to have shorter irons into these greens.”
Players who could crack the Big Four
Retief Goosen: Many say the Big Four should be renamed the Big Five to include Goosen. A second U.S. Open victory in 2004 boosts his credentials. If he wins this week, there will be no debate about his status.
Sergio Garcia: Only 24, Garcia has the potential to be the top player. Despite his relative youth, it seems like Garcia has been around for a long time. As a result, he probably holds the honor of being the best player never to win a major.
Adam Scott: Also 24, Scott figures to be knocking on the door sooner than later. A victory in the 2004 Players Championship showed he is capable of stepping up on a big stage.
Charles Howell III: A huge talent who still is trying to figure out how to maximize his game. Howell has been labeled as an underachiever at this point, but let’s not forget he’s only 25.
Ryan Moore: The U.S. Amateur champion might be the best young player to come out since Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson played a practice round with him Tuesday. When asked his assessment of Moore’s game, Mickelson said, “Wow.”
Ed Sherman.
