2012 Masters Preview: Featuring Augusta, Tiger, Rory, Phil and the Field

The Masters have had plenty of first-time winners recently – when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson haven’t been dominating. Over the last 11 Masters, Tiger has won three (2001, 2002, 2005) and Phil has won three (2004, 2006, 2010), but the other winners have been guys who haven’t really tasted major success on the PGA tour.

Charl Schwartzel (2011), Ángel Cabrera (2009), Trevor Immelman (2008), Zach Johnson (2007), and Mike Weir (2003) have all won during the Woods – Mickelson era. Of all the non-Tiger-or-Phil golfers to win a Masters in this era, only Cabrera has won a Major Championship before or since. My point is? Either Tiger, Phil or somebody else is going to win this weekend. I know that’s an incredibly trite thing to say, but that’s the way it’s been since the turn of the century.

The conditions could be rainy this weekend, so Augusta – much like chicks – will dig the long ball. I’ve included Bovada (former Bodog) odds so we can get an idea of how Vegas sees the tournament playing out. I’ve separated the preview into two sections – The Big Three and Everybody Else.

Tiger / Phil / Rory

While Tiger is the betting favorite, Rory McIlroy (11/2) has to be the on-paper favorite to win his first Masters. Rory won his first Major in 2011 with a record-setting performance at the U.S. Open. In three 2012 tournaments, Rory has finished second, first and third. McIlroy is certainly primed for his first Green Jacket.

After the three EA Sports Tiger Woods Golf cover models (Tiger, Rory and Augusta National), Phil Mickelson (11/1) is the other no-brainer pick to win this weekend. Phil has had an up and down 2012 season, with just 4 top-25 finishes in 8 tournaments. He won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and finished second a week later, but he also missed a cut early in the year and has four finishes outside the top twenty, including two in the 40’s. Having said all that, this is Phil Mickelson. In 2012, Phil is as likely to be in the final pairing on Sunday as he is to sweat the cut on Friday, but you’d be dumb to count out the three-time champion.

The Field

Last year Charl Schwartzel (33/1) earned his first PGA tour victory as he held off Adam Scott (33/1) and Jason Day (40/1) by two strokes. Schwartzel has two top-five finishes this season, but has missed the cut in consecutive tournaments. Neither Scott or Day have made any noise this year.

Martin Kaymer (50/1) has two top-25 finishes in 2012, plus he made this sweet trick shot where he skipped the ball across a pond and into the hole. He makes shots like that all week and he’ll be tough to catch.

Justin Rose (33/1) has been solid this year and has at least a top-10 finish in every Major. Kyle Stanley (80/1) won the prestigious Waste Management Phoenix Open two months ago, but has missed a cut and finished outside the top-50 since March began. Bubba Watson (40/1) has never been great in Major Championships, but he has torn it up in March with two second place finishes and a 4th place finish.

Keegan Bradley (33/1) has been one of the most solid players on tour in 2012 with 9 top-25 finishes in 9 tournaments this year. Bradley will be just 26-years-old next month, but the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is coming off a Major title at the PGA Championship. He was the third player to ever win his Major debut.

[Images via US PRESSWIRE, Getty]