The 2010 Masters: Top Four Questions Heading Into Sunday

Featured Columnist Andy Reistetter is on site this week at The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Here are the Top Five Questions Heading into Sunday at The Masters.

1.   Does it have to end?

This week at The Masters has been quite the experience.

Driving up from Jacksonville on Monday at catch Tiger's practice round and interview seems like eons ago.

Seeing Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus hit tee shots on Thursday morning.

I thought Chairman Billy Payne's "State of the Masters" press conference was exceptional.

He has definitely taken Augusta National to a new level with inclusion of the Asian Amateur champion and the construction of the "Tournament Practice Range."

When you are on the grounds for the entire week and meet people from all around the world and listen to their thoughts, comments and perspectives you realize what a truly special place Augusta National truly is.

I feel like a kid hoping I don't have to grow up so my childhood will never end.

2.   After Saturday's 3^rd round can it get any more exciting?

Cabrera, "El Plato" no more, now known as the "rabbit" makes his way around the National in less than 3-1/2 hours shooting 69 and rising into T22 position at the end of the day.

Jerry Kelly shoots an early 67 vaulting him to T11 place.

Woods birdies the first hole on his way to a roller coaster 7 birdie, 5 bogey 70 remaining in contention tied with K.J. Choi in third place only four strokes back.

Woods and Choi will play together for the fourth day in a row and have been neck-and-neck score wise all week.

Will Choi trump fellow South Korean's Tiger slaying PGA championship by winning his own major tomorrow?

Kenny Perry's bunker shot goes in for eagle at 15; then Couples chips in for his own eagle shooting a redeeming 68 and is alone in 5^th place 5 strokes back still in contention.

Mickelson makes the most theatrical move, eagling 15, then holing his approach shot at 14 for another eagle and then almost holing his pitch shot at 15 for what could have been three eagles in a row.

Mickelson tied Kelly for low round of 67 for the day.

Interesting enough back-to-back eagles have happened twice before in the Masters. Dan Pohl in 1982 and Dustin Johnson last year. All on the same two holes as Mickelson- the par-5 reachable 13^th and the difficult par-4 14^th.

Can lightning strike three times in a row at the same place?

In the end Lee Westwood stayed focused all day, up by 3 and 4 shots early in the round, then falling behind to Mickelson's 5-under in 3 holes charge, only to regain the lead at the end of the day.

I would tune in tomorrow. Even if it is only half as exciting it may be the most dramatic finish at a Masters ever.

3.   You have forgotten all about it haven't you?

Life has returned to normal on the PGA TOUR and at The Masters.

Only after a conscious effort to think about things tonight did it come to mind.

In retrospect, the decision on where to return had little to do with security.

It was more about the major. No one is bigger than the game. No one story can change the historic significance of the Masters. No one story can dominate this spring time celebration.

The story will be who wins this Masters tomorrow.

End of the other story.

 4.   Who will win the 2010 Masters?

Hard to say…

Lee Westwood leads by one stroke over Phil Mickelson though there are six other golfers within six strokes of the lead.

It is Westwood's major to win after T3 finishes at the last two majors.

If he goes out there and shoots 65 it is his Masters and a well deserved one at that.

Mickelson is certainly the people's choice with his exciting play.

Last year it was a front nine 30 when paired with Tiger Woods on Sunday.

This year who knows what will be.

Tiger and Choi have only four strokes to make up on Westwood.

That's a couple of holes maybe only one on the back nine on Sunday afternoon.

Remember Tiger has won four Masters and would love to return to the Butler Cabin to pick up his 5^th since it has been five years since his last.

If Yang could do it at the PGA at Hazeltine certainly Choi can do it here.

Stay focused and hit the right shot at the right moment to seal the victory.

Fred Couples at age 50 with a questionable back now that would be a story.

At six strokes back Ricky Barnes with limited major experience would need a real low score to pass a lot of people to come out on top.

Ditto for Ian Poulter and Hunter Mahan who are tied with Barnes.

One more stroke and you have Anthony Kim and the Tiger-slayer himself Y.E. Yang.

Where do you stop at the possibilities?

My guess is there is going to be a three way playoff.

Mahan will shoot a career round and Mickelson and Woods will match him at the end of regulation.

Surprisingly Mahan birdies the first playoff hole, the 18^th to win his first major.

Hey it's possible, even probable plus that's where I put my money early in the week.

Mahan in the hunt and comes home with the 2010 Masters title!

p.s. There is no fifth question due to fatigue and the need for sleep to withstand the grind of being at Augusta National for 12 more hours on Masters Sunday. Not looking for any sympathy here…

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering and working part time for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]