Defending Champion<\/strong>: Adam Scott ($1,440,000)<\/p>\nLength is important; hitting greens will be essential and top notch scrambling abilities as always will be an asset this week. A hot putter is nice but not paramount, provided the scrambling numbers are there. Driving accuracy is another stat that doesn`t seem as crucial as one would think.<\/p>\n
So with all that in mind, who should we be keeping our eyes on this week? Let`s take a look.<\/p>\n
The Favorites:<\/h3>\n Adam Scott 9\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nScott has been the most consistently solid golfer on the planet since his breakthrough win at Augusta last year \u2013 four wins and five more top fives since that remarkable Sunday. His record here is impressive as well \u2013 a T18-T2-T8-Win in his last four starts. Scott was last seen finishing third at Bay Hill so we know he is in fine form ahead of this week. It\u2019s pretty hard to bet against Scott \u2013 let\u2019s see if there are some more gems.<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy 9\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nWe are still waiting for Rory to put four rounds together but he appears to be in good form ahead of this week \u2013 a final round 65 and a T7 at the Shell Houston Open has a lot of McIlroy supporters salivating! He has three top 25s at the Masters and if his driver shows up like it did last week, Rory is an automatic threat.<\/p>\n
Phil Mickelson 12\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nThree time winner here came back from injury and finished a good T12 at Houston. Although he hasn\u2019t been terrific this year Phil returns to arguably his favorite track this week looking to make a little noise.<\/p>\n
The Contenders:<\/h3>\n Jason Day 14\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nI love Day on this track \u2013 he scares me a tad this week however. He is coming off a thumb injury \u2013 who knows where he`s at with that? But he was solo third last year at the Masters and T2 in 2011 so course history is definitely on his side. Day is the sentimental favorite in his first start since winning the Match Play.<\/p>\n
Matt Kuchar 20\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nYikes! Kuchar, for the second straight tournament blew a lead only to lose with his second place finish in Houston. His finishing ability has me scared! He is as consistent as they come however and has the all around game to be near the top again. He has finished top 10 in his last two appearances at Augusta.<\/p>\n
Dustin Johnson 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nWithdrew from the Shell Houston Open \u2013 sore back. Johnson has been terrific on TOUR this year and may be the best value on the board right now. He has finished top-4 in his last three events played and ranks first in par 5 scoring, second in par 4 scoring, second in driving distance and is tied for 13th in 3-putt avoidance. DJ enters in fine form and was T13 here last year.<\/p>\n
Sergio Garcia 22\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nGarcia was in contention last week and now has 14 straight top 20s on TOUR \u2013 T8, T16 and solo third in his last three starts. Garcia has three top 10s at Augusta and was T8 here last year and enters this year in arguably his best career form. He ranks first in par 4 scoring, eighth in 3-putt avoidance and inside the top 35 in SGP, driving distance, proximity and approaches from over 200 yards \u2013 all important stats for Augusta.<\/p>\n
Bubba Watson 25\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nThe 2012 champion had a T2 at Doral which is a terrific measuring stick for Augusta. He has been on fire this year \u2013 a win and two T2s in previous three stroke-play starts. He withdrew at Bay Hill because of allergies but should be ready this week. Watson enters first in driving distance, fifth in 3-putt avoidance and ninth in par 4 scoring average \u2013 great numbers as we head to Augusta.<\/p>\n
Justin Rose 28\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nHas made the cut all eight times he\u2019s played here with two top 10s and another four top 25s but is coming off a MC at Bay Hill! He did finish T8 at Copperhead so we know his game isn\u2019t a total disaster right now.<\/p>\n
Zach Johnson 28\/1<\/strong><\/p>\n2007 champion hasn\u2019t been great on this track since \u2013 no top 20 finishes in his last six appearances. He has been very good this year \u2013 a T6 at the Valero has brought about a sense of optimism for Mr. Johnson but his recent track record here has me looking elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Brandt Snedeker 33\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nFinally starting to come on after a less-than-flattering start to his season. He had a T8 a Bay Hill and has finished inside the top 20 in his last five starts on this track.<\/p>\n
Charl Schwartzel 35\/1<\/strong>Hunter Mahan 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nHip and back injuries raise red flags for Mahan ahead of the Masters \u2013 his return to a T31 is another. He has played this track very well however \u2013 three top 12s in his last five appearances.<\/p>\n
Jason Dufner 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nIt\u2019s pretty hard not to look at Duf on a tough track on the bigger stages. He hasn\u2019t been tremendous this year but he does have top 15s in his last three events played on TOUR this season. He has finished between 20th and 30th in all three trips to Augusta but a hunch has me thinking he betters that this year.<\/p>\n
Lee Westwood 40\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nLee Westwood \u2013 where have you been? He had his best 2014 result last week \u2013 a T17 at Houston! But we all know that Westy will show up in the Majors \u2013 he may not win but he will certainly give it a run. He has three top 10s and a T11 in his last four trips here but enters in sketchy form this year.<\/p>\n
The Sleepers (50\/1 or higher):<\/h3>\n Jimmy Walker 50\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nFedExCup points leader will play Augusta for the first time. He has been inside the top 25 in eight of nine starts on TOUR this year \u2013as solid as they come so far.<\/p>\n
Patrick Reed 60\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you listen to Reed \u2013 he should be the overwhelming favorite with Tiger on the sidelines! He has been very good this year \u2013 two wins and seven top 25s already. He plays this track for the first time looking to make a little more noise.<\/p>\n
Graham DeLaet 66\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nStill waiting for that breakthrough \u2013 this week may be it! He remains at or near the top in almost every driving category and is a sneaky 66\/1 this week. DeLaet WILL WIN sometime!<\/p>\n
Harris English 66\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nImpressive rookie leads the TOUR in GIR and has to be mentioned because of that alone. He is also third in par 4 and fourth in par 5 scoring, and he did finish T16 at Doral.<\/p>\n
Gary Woodland 100\/1<\/strong><\/p>\nSuper sleeper \u2013 Woodland has finished inside the top 20 in his last three starts. His driver makes him a contender \u2013 let\u2019s hope the rest of his game follows suit!<\/p>\n
The Pick:<\/h3>\n I am tempted to go with Matt Kuchar this week \u2013 he has been playing in the final groups the last two tournaments but common sense has set in.<\/p>\n
Adam Scott at 9\/1<\/strong> is my pick. He has been the best golfer in the world for a year now \u2013 his eyes are clearly fixed on the prize. History and present form makes this an obvious pick.<\/p>\nMy sleeper is Harris English at 66\/1.<\/strong> He is a terrific ball striker and his putter is an excellent compliment.<\/p>\n