2012 Masters: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Other Americans Who Could Win It

The Masters may not be the Ryder Cup but when you look at the field and the rising tide of both the U.S. and European players, you realize that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and other Yanks are fighting for American glory at Augusta against Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and their Euro, South African and Down Under brethren.

This Masters may be McIlroy's to take, but will anyone argue that Tiger is on a roll, Phil is feeling it and guys like Stricker, Mahan and a bevy of American bucks—young and old—have a chance at the green jacket this year?

Last year, no-name South African Charl Schwartzel won it with a stellar performance on the back nine on Sunday and it was Tiger of all people as the closest American competitor.

Things will be a lot different this time around as a slew of Americans are poised to compete for golf's most acclaimed prize.

Which Americans will come forward? Here's a list of those with a real chance to win.

Tiger Woods Is Primed to Win His 15th Major

Talk about a way to make a comeback!

Tiger Woods is primed to win his 15th Major and fifth green jacket this weekend at the Masters.

Anyone doubting him should watch what he did to the field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

There, he ran past the field, besting Grahame McDowell by 5 strokes in a performance reminiscent of his glory days.

Tiger knows Augusta better than anyone. He knows its blind spots and its tough spots, when to lay up and when to go for it and he knows those greens like the back of his proverbial hand.

He is hitting it straight and long and best of all, he is putting like a master.

Watch out, world...Tiger is back.

Phil Mickelson Has What It Takes to Take It All

Phil Mickelson is cruising towards another green jacket.

Or haven't you seen his sweet swing this season?

He won at Pebble Beach with a wonderful array of Phil-like shots in a workman-like manner that made his competitors wilt.

When Phil is feeling it, you better just put your wedge back in the bag and just watch.  Because there is not much else you can do.

Last week, he completed another round under par and gained the momentum he will need as he enters the fray at Augusta this week.

Lefty has the nerves, the power, the guts and the imagination to win at Augusta. Everyone else might as well just take a seat.

Steve Stricker Is Not 5th in the World for Nothing

Mr. Consistency, Steve Stricker, is one to watch out for at the Masters.

After winning the first tournament of the year in Hawaii, he has posted better-than-respectable performances leading to the Masters.

Despite all the hoopla about Rory and Donald and the like, Stricker has retained his ranking as the No. 5 ranked golfer in the world.

Is there anyone better to tame the slick greens of Augusta than Stricker?

He ranks third in greens in regulation even as his overall distance off the tee lags. 

But Stricker possesses an indomitable spirit that allows this Midwesterner to be an odds-on favorite to win at Augusta.

If you look back over the years, he is always in the hunt and if he is within striking distance, Stricker will be the one at the front.

Hunter Mahan Is Ready for His Major

Ranked first in the Fedex standings with two wins already under his white belt, the ever-cool, sunglass-wearing Hunter Mahan is next in line for a Major.

And there are a ton of reasons why he could win at the Masters.

Length, strength and a winning attitude have combined to give Mahan a decided edge over the competition.

There is just something different about Mahan this year. He has shown a steadfastness that makes him a formidable foe on any course and he doesn't care if your name is Rory, Phil, Tiger or Luke—he will take you on.

Mahan has had some good rounds at Augusta, but he is coming into the tournament ranked sixth in driving accuracy, while pounding the ball down the fairway 290 yards on average—a lethal combination on a course that demands tee-to-green accuracy.

Don't be surprised to find Mahan fighting for a place at the top of the board this weekend.

Keegan Bradley Will Break out with a Win at Augusta

Keegan Bradley has missed only one cut in nine tries this season and was so close to winning the Northern Trust.

Is there any doubt that this lanky 25-year-old is a gamer? He has shown pure grit time again as he battles older, wiser but rarely better players.

Remember, this is the kid who won his first Major last year—the PGA Championship—so we know he has what it takes to compete.

His stats bear this out: 15th in driving (299 yards), third in scoring average and a very respectable 21st in putting. 

His all-around ranking?  A nifty third place.

The Masters may be a relatively new place for Bradley, but it will be hard to fathom that he will act like anything but a seasoned veteran.

Watch out Here Comes...Bo Van Pelt

For those looking at the PGA stat sheets, you may be surprised at one name that keeps popping up at the top—Bo Van Pelt.

Journeyman Van Pelt is ranked first in top-10 finishes this season, first in birdie average, first in par breakers and second in total putting.

You might also be surprised that he has won only once on the tour in his 10-year career.

Yet, this year, everywhere you look, there he is.

And last year at the Masters? He finished tied for eighth place.

Bo knows Augusta.

And this long-driving, smooth-putting Bo may also be ready for his second win—and first green jacket.

Brandt Snedeker Is Sneaking Up on the Pack

Brandt Snedeker may be your classic dark horse.

Would you pick this unassuming sweet swinger to win at Augusta?

You probably can't even pronounce his name, right?

What's more, there are few players on the PGA with such a roller-coaster career. He can finish third one week and miss the next two cuts. This year, he won the Farmers Open, then finished 50th in his next event.

We are not going to lie and tell you that Snedeker ranks high on the stats list—or any list for that matter—but he is second among scramblers. And if there is one thing you've got to be able to do at Augusta, it's scramble.

Watch for Snedeker to sneak up on the pack.

Everyone Loves Bubba Watson

Wouldn't it be great to see the high-flying, ever-gambling, golf-ball-whacker guy, Bubba Watson, win the Masters?

That would be a hoot but we all know from watching Bubba drive the ball, shape the ball and putt the ball, he has the balls to make it happen.

We are not going to belabor the stats: first in driving, first in par-four performance, first in average distance to the hole after tee shot and—our favorite—second in going for the green.

If the self-taught, aptly named Bubba can keep the ball in the fairway, there is virtually no one who can compete with him. Shoot, he will have a chip shot to most greens.

And the more greens he hits in regulation, the closer to the green jacket he will come.

A Sweet Win for Sweet-Swinging Fred Couples

Fred Couples is the guy with the bad back and the purest swing in golf who still manages to pound the ball down the fairway and win at any age.

With 15 career wins and a green jacket in his closet, Freddie cannot be left off of any list to win when he is competing.

He is raking it in on the Championship Tour and seems in good condition to make a run at the Masters.

The last two years, he has finished in the top 10 at the Masters and there is no reason why he cannot push that just a few places up.

When flashes that classic smile on the final day, the rest of the field will just be smiling back knowing that Freddie could get it done.