Masters 2012: Top 25 Competitors Still in the Hunt
The Masters tournament is one of the truest, toughest tests of skill and guts on the PGA tour, and many competitors are still in the hunt after day one.
The first day at Augusta provided us with some low scoring numbers from the field compared to many years in the past after the course was soaked by rain on Wednesday, making the greens soft and receptive.
Here are the top 25 competitors who have put themselves in the best shape to win the Green Jacket in 2012.
1. Lee Westwood (-5)
1 of 13Lee Westwood had a spectacular first round at this year's Masters, shooting a five-under 67.
Westwood has been in contention at major championships before, finishing in the top ten 12 times in the past. Since 2008, Westwood has really stepped up his game at the majors, finishing in the top five, six times.
I don't expect Westwood to start crumbling under the pressure all of a sudden. It is a safe bet to assume he'll be in this one for the long haul.
If he manages to go on another tear on day two you can expect to see a small field over the weekend, as the Masters enforces a non-negotiable ten-stroke cut line.
Round two prediction: -3
T2. Peter Hanson (-4)
2 of 13Peter Hanson has only played in one previous Masters before 2012 and was cut on that one occasion. So when he fired an opening round 68 to move into second place going into Friday it was a bit of a surprise.
Hanson has never won on the PGA. He has six wins as a professional, all of which have come overseas.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Hanson have a rough go of it on day two, though if he succeeds it wouldn't be the first time a relative unknown has come to Augusta to challenge the world's best.
Round two prediction: +3
T2. Ben Crane (-4)
3 of 13Ben Crane is in the running at Augusta for the first time in his career.
He has competed at the Masters twice previously, finishing T-25 in 2010 and getting cut after two days in 2011.
Crane has only finished a major championship in the top 10 once during his career, completing the 2004 PGA Championship tied for ninth place.
I expect Crane to struggle as he tries to keep his good run going.
Round two prediction: +4
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T2. Jason Dufner (-4)
4 of 13Jason Dufner continued the trend of unknowns occupying the 2012 Masters leaderboard, shooting a 69 in his first round.
Dufner has never won on the PGA tour. His two professional wins have both come on the Nationwide tour against less experienced and less talented competition.
Dufner has played in this tournament only once prior to this year's event in 2010, where he finished tied for 30th place.
It will be interesting to watch as Dufner tries to overcome the course, the pressure and his own inexperience on day two, We're sure to see some of the heavy hitters make some big time moves up the leaderboard heading into the weekend.
Round two prediction: +2
T5. Bubba Watson (-3)
5 of 13It would mean a lot for Bubba Watson to win the 2012 Masters. He went to college at Georgia, making him somewhat of a local boy down south.
Watson has only won five events on tour but as talented as he is, I expect to see those numbers rising in the next couple of years.
His best finish at Augusta came in 2008 where he finished tied for 20th place. Watson has finished in the top 10 at a major championship two times in the past. He has the game to pull off a win at some point in his career.
Round two prediction: -2
T5. Paul Lawrie (-3)
6 of 13Paul Lawrie is a veteran journeyman of the European tour. He has won 11 times as a professional.
His greatest achievement came when he won the 1999 Open Championship at the Carnoustie Golf Links. Unfortunately for him, that victory comes with an asterisk.
This was the year that Jean van de Velde infamously finished the tournament with a final hole triple-bogey.
Lawrie has a good chance to hang around the top of the leaderboard over the weekend with a disciplined approach.
Round two prediction: -1
T5. Miguel Jimenez (-3)
7 of 13Miguel Jimenez is a charismatic Spaniard who is a threat almost every year at one major or another.
Jimenez has won 21 times as a professional but he's never finished a major championship on top.
He has extra motivation this year, though. His heart—along with the hearts of millions of Spanish people—is broken over the loss of his fellow countryman and golfing legend, Seve Ballesteros.
I expect Jimenez to be in contention all weekend long. It won't surprise me if he ends up winning the whole thing this year.
Round two prediction: -3
T5. Francesco Molinari (-3)
8 of 13Francesco Molinari is another relative unknown sitting atop the 2012 Masters leaderboard.
Molinari has won only four times in his professional career, never finishing higher than a tie for 30th place at previous Masters tournaments.
He has beaten tough opponents in the past, though, as he took on Lee Westwood head-to-head in 2010 to win the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai by one stroke.
That said, I don't expect to see Molinari's name on the leaderboard after Friday.
Round two prediction: +4
T5. Zach Johnson (-3)
9 of 13Zach Johnson has won at Augusta before and seems to be getting his mojo back in time for another run in 2012.
It's been close to two years since Johnson has won a tournament. He has won seven events in his career, his last victory coming in May of 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Look for Johnson's strong play to continue on Friday as he makes his way back to the top of the leaderboard for a strong push into the weekend.
Round two prediction: -3
T10. Vijay Singh (-2)
10 of 13You can't ever count out Vijay Singh from any tournament, let alone a major.
Singh has won 34 tournaments over the course of his long, prosperous career, one of which came at Augusta when he won the 2000 Masters.
He is one of the most consistent golfers in the world with a chance to win every week he steps foot onto the course.
Round two prediction: -1
T10. Scott Stallings (-2)
11 of 13Scott Stallings is another golfer you probably have never heard of before today. He has never played at the Masters before, winning only one event in his entire PGA career.
Don't look for his name at the top of the leaderboard through the weekend.
Round two prediction: +5
T10. Jonathan Byrd
12 of 13Jonathan Byrd is a former PGA Rookie of the Year. Byrd is a six-time winner on tour, the last victory coming well over a year ago.
He has finished in the top ten at Augusta, but that was way back in 2003. Since then, Byrd has been cut or absent every year since.
I don't expect Byrd to get cut this weekend, though. He is playing well and will continue to do so well into Sunday's final round.
Second round prediction: -2
T14. 17 Other Golfers
13 of 13There are 17 other golfers within striking distance of Lee Westwood and the rest of the leaders.
| Golfer | To Par | Score |
| Louis Oosthuizen | -1 | 71 |
| Jim Furyk | -1 | 71 |
| Kevin Na | -1 | 71 |
| Angel Cabrera | -1 | 71 |
| Rory Mcilroy | -1 | 71 |
| Ross Fisher | -1 | 71 |
| Steve Stricker | -1 | 71 |
| Padraig Harrington | -1 | 71 |
| Stewart Cink | -1 | 71 |
| Aaron Baddeley | -1 | 71 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | -1 | 71 |
| Matt Kuchar | -1 | 71 |
| Henrik Stenson | -1 | 71 |
| Keegan Bradley | -1 | 71 |
| Nick Watney | -1 | 71 |
| Patrick Cantlay | -1 | 71 |
| Webb Simpson | -1 | 71 |
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