Masters Favorites 2012: Breakdown and Analysis of Top Players' Chances

It's that time of year golf fanatics put everything aside, including their personal lives, and watch the Masters for four straight days.

Who will win this year? Last year, Charl Schwartzel came out of nowhere to shock the world, and Rory McIlroy explored the outskirts of Augusta in the final round, losing his lead in the process.

There are some new contenders this year, as well as the usual favorites.

Here's a look at my top-five favorites heading into Augusta, complete with breakdowns of each player and analysis (world rankings in parentheses).

5. Hunter Mahan (No. 4)

Hunter Mahan is now the top-ranked American in golf after winning the Houston Open with a 16-under-par 272.

The 29-year-old is playing some great golf lately and he has three top-10 finishes this year after nine top-10 finishes in 2011.

Beyond that, Mahan finished in the Top 10 at the 2009 and 2010 Masters. He's had success at Augusta and played very well down the stretch at Redstone. He's a sleeper, but he has a shot at shocking the world.

4. Phil Mickelson (No. 14)

Phil Mickelson not only has a special place in his heart for Augusta, he used the Houston Open to springboard himself to his third career green jacket in 2010.

Mickelson is coming off a fourth-place finish at Redstone this year, shooting a 12-under-par 276. He also won at Pebble Beach. At 41 years of age, he still has the ability to win his fourth career green jacket, and don't think he doesn't know that.

3. Keegan Bradley (No. 19)

Keegan Bradley is somewhat underneath the radar heading into Augusta, and it's a wonder why. He won the PGA Championship in his first try last year en route to the 2011 Rookie of the Year and he's played splendid golf in 2012.

The 25-year-old out of Vermont hasn't placed worse than 22nd in nine PGA Tour events this year and has three top-10 finishes. He finished second in a playoff at the Northern Trust Open and tied for fourth place at the Houston Open.

Bradley is a great sleeper this year, and I can't imagine him not being in it in the final round.

2. Tiger Woods (No. 7)

To say Tiger Woods' last two years have been a nightmare would be an understatement. He's struggled with injuries and his mental game, appearing mortal for the first time in his career.

But his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was just what Woods needed. He believes in himself again and is playing at a high level. When he captured Bay Hill on March 25, you could almost see the past two years wash away on his face.

Woods has his mental game back, and that's a scary thing.

1. Rory McIlroy (No. 2)

If Tiger Woods plays the way he did at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he's going to be hard to beat. But Rory McIlroy still has the edge this year in my mind.

Yes, McIlroy tanked in the final round last year, but he hasn't had a moment like that since and he golfed a historic U.S. Open.

Beyond that, he's playing solid golf in 2012. In five total tournaments, McIlroy has placed in the top five. In three PGA Tour events, he's finished in the top three, including a victory at the Honda Classic (12-under-par 268). It's hard to bet against him this year and I see him edging Woods and Bradley for his first career green jacket.

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