The Masters preview II: players to watch

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Apr 12, 2002

The first round of the Masters, season's first major, will have been completed by the appearance of this article, but nonetheless, following is a look at players favoured to win the title, with their most recent records at Augusta in brackets.

Tiger Woods (defending champion): The world's No. 1 golfer is also the two-time winner of the Masters, but is not quite on the same streak as he was on last spring. That said, he is the favourite in every tournament he enters, and the Masters, especially after the lengthening of Augusta National, is no exception. Woods' flat stick must find its groove, however, as he is coming off the Players Championship where he was dead last in the field in putting average. Another thing working against Tiger is that only two players-Jack Nicklaus (1965-66) and Nick Faldo (1989-1990)-have won back-to-back Masters. Can he defy the odds once again in a career that's been all about doing the unthinkable?
José Maria Olazábal (T-15th): Another two-time Masters champ-1994 and 1999-is enjoying a remarkable season, with six top-10s in eight starts on the Tour, including a win at the Buick Invitational in February. Never known as a great driver of the ball, Olazábal has been hitting about 12 yards farther off the tee thanks to the help of none other than Woods' coach, Butch Harmon. Combine that newly found length with the Spaniard's delicate short game and his momentum, and Olazábal is a solid bet to become only the seventh player with three or more Masters title.
Phil Mickelson (3rd): The second-ranked player in the world is in the midst of an up-and-down season, which has seen the lefty win once, miss the cut twice and lose in the first round at the World Match Play Championship. Mickelson has a great track record, having had five top-10s in his last seven Masters, but, on the other hand, has not broken 70 on Sunday at Augusta in those seven. During the Players Championship, he defended his aggressive style of play and said he doesn't care if he never wins a major playing that way. Whether he cares or not, there are more than enough observers who do and will continue to do so until he gets that elusive first major. Can this be it?
David Duval (2nd): The reigning Open champ has been spectacular at Augusta the last four years-T-2, T-6, T-3 and 2nd-and Duval has an average Sunday score of 68.5 in those four years. With that first career major out of the way, Duval is under considerably less pressure to win a major, and that may do wonders for him. Battling personal problems and injuries, the world's No. 6 golfer has been off the mark this year. But he rested his injured wrist for a month before the last year's Masters and finished runner-up to Woods. And if there's anyone due to win at Augusta-other than Greg Norman, of course-it is Duval.