Masters TV Coverage 2012: Top Morning Groups Worth Following

The 2012 Masters is going to get underway just before 8:00 a.m. ET.

Get excited—unless you're already excited, of course.

Masters.com has all the information you need in terms of how you'll be able to watch the Masters. Live coverage will begin on the website at 10:45 a.m., with ESPN's coverage starting right around 3:00 p.m.

There's a certain dilemma with a coverage schedule like this: a lot of golf is going to go unseen.

The only thing you can do about that is follow the action online, whether via Twitter or by just keeping an eye on a live leaderboard.

No matter how you're following the action, there are four groups in particular that you should monitor until the live coverage kicks in.

Adam Scott, Bo Van Pelt, Martin Kaymer (8:45 a.m.)

This group features some pretty heavy hitters. Adam Scott finished tied for second at the Masters last year, Bo Van Pelt finished tied for eighth and Martin Kaymer was the No. 1 golfer in the world not too long ago.

Scott hasn't played in a PGA Tour event in roughly a month, and he hasn't played particularly well in the three PGA events he has played in. Despite that, you have to like Scott's chances because he's no stranger to Augusta National. He has played this course many times, and has come through with some solid performances.

Van Pelt has played very well this year, notching four top-10 finishes in seven PGA events. He's hitting his stride in his mid 30s, and is a trendy sleeper pick to win the green jacket this year.

Everyone knows what Kaymer is capable of on a good day. The trouble in his case is that he hasn't made the cut yet in four tries at the Masters. Despite that, he can't be counted out. If he can skip a ball across water and still get it in the hole, he can win the Masters.

Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink (8:56 a.m.)

Steve Stricker is a guy who's always in contention, which is a big reason why he currently sits at No. 5 in the World Golf Rankings. He hasn't won a major yet, but he has numerous top-10 finishes at majors in his career, and so far this year he has one win and two top-10 finishes.

Padraig Harrington has missed the cut at each of the last two Masters, and this year he's more or less doomed to fail. He won the Par 3 contest on Wednesday, meaning he is now tasked with snapping a curse that is more than 50 years old.

Stewart Cink is no longer a major player at this point in his career. He has missed the cut at the Masters three years in a row, and he actually ended up missing the cut at three of the four majors last year.

But in terms of experience and collective success, this group definitely stands out from the rest of the pack.

Trevor Immelman, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose (9:29 a.m.)

This group is something of a mixed bag, albeit a delightful one.

Trevor Immelman won the Masters in 2008, and has finished no lower than 20th in the three tournaments since. He has been hit or miss at majors over the last two years, but you can't count him out of this year's Masters given his recent history at Augusta National.

Rickie Fowler tied for 38th in his Masters debut last year. So far in 2012, Fowler has one top-10 finish and several finishes that he would rather forget. He's been either really good or wildly mediocre, which is pretty much the story of his career at this point.

Justin Rose has climbed all the way to No. 9 this season, thanks in large part to the solid golf he's played this season. He has one win and another top-five finish. Last year at the Masters, he finished tied for 11th.

Tom Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hideki Matsuyama (9:40 a.m.)

You've got to respect Tom Watson. His best days have long since passed him by, but we're talking about a guy who has two Masters wins and eight total major victories to his name.

Johnson Wagner only has one Masters appearance under his belt, and he failed to make a lasting impression. So far this year, however, Wagner has been playing pretty well, notching four top-10 finishes in 10 PGA Tour events. The best of the bunch was a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii back in January.

Whatever you do, don't sleep on Hideki Matsuyama. He's not just the top amateur in Japan, he's the top amateur in the world. He's only 20 years old, and he has already played the Masters once. He earned a trip to Augusta National in 2011 by winning the 2010 Asian Amateur Championship, and he ended up finishing tied for 27th.

So in this group, you have a legend, a sleeper pick and an elite young golfer. Not a bad mix.

Head over to Masters.com for a full list of tee times.