The Masters 2012: Power Ranking the Top 25 Picks to Win at Augusta

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Although it is still sixth months away, it is the next major to be played, so it is time to roll out the power rankings for the 2012 Masters.

This past Masters was one of the greatest of all time, with 10 players within arms reach of the coveted green jacket on the back nine.

We can only hope for this one to be half as good, and with young guns like Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Martin Kaymer it is sure to be exciting.

No. 25 Trevor Immelman

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Immelman is finally at full health and shot a 62 last week to prove it. He is a former Masters winner, so we know that he has the game for this course. 

Previous Finishes: 

2011- T15

2010- T14

2009- T20

2008- Won

No. 24 Zach Johnson

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Zach Johnson hasn't played as well this season as he has in the past, but like Immelman he has won here before.

Previous Finishes: 

2011- CUT

2010- 42

2009- CUT

2008- T20 

No. 23 Nick Watney

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Watney has enjoyed his best season on tour by far. He has won two tournaments and racked up $5,290,673 in prize money. 

He is in the same boat as Dustin Johnson right now. They have experienced success on every stage but the major championship.

Previous Finishes: 

 

2011- 46th

2010- 7th

2009- 19th

2008- T11

No. 22 Gary Woodland

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Woodland has slowly climbed up the World Golf Rankings and is currently sitting at 42nd in the world.

He has a good combination of distance and accuracy, which bodes well at Augusta.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T24

2010- DNP

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 21 Rickie Fowler

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Fowler won for the first time in his professional career last week in Asia, but he still has yet to win on the PGA Tour.

Fowler can get a hot putter and we all know what a hot putter can do for you at Augusta (see: Charl Schwartzel).

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T38

2010- DNP

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 20 Geoff Ogilvy

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He failed to win on tour for the first time since 2007, but he has had recent success at the Masters; the course fits his game very well.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T4

2010- T26

2009- T15

2008- T39

No. 19 Justin Rose

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He hasn't played here since 2008, but I feel like the Masters is Rose's best shot at winning a major. His game suits the course extremely well.

He tied for ninth at the PGA Championship, so he will be looking to take that success to Augusta.

Previous Finishes:

2011- DNP

2010- DNP

2009- T20

2008- T36

No. 18 Paul Casey

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Casey has played well this year with a win at the Volvo Golf Champions earlier in the season and another recently in Korea.

He has all of the talent in the world, and if he can string it together for 72 holes of a major championship then he would likely emerge the victor.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T38

2010- CUT

2009- T20

2008- T11

No. 17 Matt Kuchar

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Kuchar has been sickeningly consistent over the past two years, finishing in the top 25 in 39 of 50 tournaments.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T27

2010- T24

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 16 Ryo Ishikawa

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While he hasn't had a win anywhere in the world in almost a year, I think he is one big tournament away from busting onto the PGA Tour scene.

He has made the cut in all four major championships.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T20

2010- CUT

2009- CUT

2008- DNP

No. 15 Y.E. Yang

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Yang shocked everyone when he beat Tiger in the 2009 PGA Championship. Does he have enough game to win another major?

I think so.

He tied for third at the U.S. Open this year, and although he never really had a shot at winning it, it was still a fine performance nevertheless.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T20

2010- T8

2009- CUT

2008- DNP

No. 14 Steve Stricker

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Stricker currently resides in the Best Player to Never Have Won a Major category. Could this tournament get him out of that company?

I sincerely hope so because he doesn't have too many chances left.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T11

2010- T30

2009- T6

2008- CUT

No. 13 Dustin Johnson

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Johnson suffered another close call at the British Open this season, which now gives him three majors that he should have won.

I think he has the talent to win multiple majors if he can ever get over that first hump.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T38

2010- T38

2009- T30

2008- DNP

No. 12 Webb Simpson

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No golfer has enjoyed a more successful season on tour this year than Webb Simpson. Two wins and three second place finishes to his name, not to mention the 20 top 25's in 25 starts.

Now if he can just get that putter working.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- DNP

2010- DNP

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 11 Angel Cabrera

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Cabrera seems to kick into high gear for majors. He won here in 2009 and was briefly in the lead in the second round last year. It will be interesting to see if he has anymore majors left in him.

Previous Finishes:

2011- 7th

2010- T18

2009- Won

2008- T25

Tie No. 10 Matteo Manassero

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This kid has talent oozing out of every orifice on his body. He won the Maybank Malaysian Open this past season and came close at the BMW PGA Championship.

Previous Finishes:

2011- DNP

2010- 36th

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

Tie No. 10 Lee Westwood

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Westwood is one of the best players never to have won a major championship. He was the favorite here last year but won't be this year. 

He had five top ten finishes before the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- 11th

2010- 2nd

2009- 43rd

2008- T11

No. 9 Martin Kaymer

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Kaymer hasn't won since the beginning of the year, and he has never played on the weekend at Augusta National. He implemented a tweak in his swing after his last poor showing at the Masters. I like that kind of dedication.

Previous Finishes:

2011- CUT

2010- CUT

2009- CUT

2008- CUT

No. 8 Luke Donald

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Donald is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and has been the most consistent player on tour with 13 top 10 finishes in 18 starts.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T4

2010- CUT

2009- T38

2008- CUT

No. 7 Adam Scott

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Stevie Williams knows a few things about being on green jacket-winning bags, so Scott has one more thing going for him.

He won just recently at the Bridgestone Invitational and tied for sixth at THE TOUR Championship.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T2

2010- T18

2009- CUT

2008- T25

No. 6 Phil Mickelson

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No introduction needed here. 

Previous Finishes:

2011- T27

2010- Won

2009- 5th

2008- T5

No. 5 K.J. Choi

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K.J. Choi has been all over the top of the leaderboard at the Masters the past couple of years. He had a real shot at winning in 2010 and finished T8 last year.

He has also enjoyed one of his most financially successful season on tour racking up $4,434,691 in prize money.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T8

2010- T4

2009- CUT

2008- 41st

No. 4 Charl Schwartzel

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Not too many people have enjoyed more success at majors this season, and he didn't miss a cut on the PGA Tour. Oh yeah, did I mention he is the defending champion.

Previous Finishes:

2011- Won

2010- T30

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 3 Jason Day

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Day has enjoyed a remarkable 2011 season. A T6 at THE TOUR Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship, and a solo second at the U.S. Open and a T2 at the Masters.

Previous Finishes:

2011- T2

2010- DNP

2009- DNP

2008- DNP

No. 2 Tiger Woods

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The Masters has been the only tournament Tiger has played with any consistency since the scandal. He finished T4 last year and T4 in 2010. It would be hard to imagine anything but a first place finish if Tiger is back on his game come April.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T4

2010- T4

2009- T6

2008- 2nd

No. 1 Rory McIlroy

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At this point in Rory's career any tournament he plays in I would be willing to pick him as the favorite. He played 63 holes of great golf here last year, and he finally closed out a major at the U.S. Open.

Previous Finishes:

 

2011- T15

2010- CUT

2009- T20

2008- DNP