Masters Leaderboard 2012: 25 Bold Predictions on 'Moving Day'

Saturday's 'Moving Day' in golf is arguably the most exciting day of the tournament as notables move into contention for the top pairing and for success in Sunday's finale. 

With Day 1 of the 2012 Masters in the books, there's still no clear favorite, and it's set up for a fantastic Saturday and Sunday. 

Lee Westwood took the first-round lead into the clubhouse with minus-5, but favorites like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson are within striking distance.

It's setting up for a brilliant finish at Augusta National, with virtually all of the world's top golfers in contention for the green jacket. 

Here's a look at what's in store for Saturday.

Tiger Will Have a Typically Brilliant Moving Day

In every one of Tiger's Masters wins, he's had his best play come through on Saturday.

His E score on Thursday's opening round wasn't bad, but two bogeys on 17 and 18 killed the huge momentum he had going into Friday. He was obviously disgusted with some of his tee-off shots.

After hitting the driving range Thursday evening, Woods seems determined to have a bounceback Friday and Saturday to move himself into contention. 

Westwood Will Stick Around

Early-round studs have a way of slipping on Friday and Saturday, but the No. 3 world golfer is talented and determined enough to stay with the head of the pack.

Lee Westwood is one of the world's most consistent golfers, which will keep him in the running until the 72nd and final hole. 

He may not have the outright lead for the whole tournament or shoot in the 60s again, but he will enter Sunday's final round with a chance to win his first major.

Phil Mickelson Won't Bogey the 10th

Golf fans attending the Masters should be flocking toward the daunting 10th hole that featured Phil Mickelson losing his ball and taking a provisional shot on the way to a triple bogey.

Mickelson won't struggle with the scary par-4 on Saturday, greatly helping his chances of staying within reach.

Rain Will Affect Course Conditions

The course at Augusta is one of the nicest in the world and is in great condition heading into Masters play, but possible storms on Friday could make for some less-than-ideal course conditions heading into the final two rounds.

I'm no weatherman, but there's a decent chance of rain throughout Friday afternoon. These courses have a way of wearing down when Sunday rolls around, as they've been played four times through by hundreds of golfers. 

'The Mechanic' Will Make a Run at the Lead

The 48-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez had a surprisingly solid opening round, shooting a minus-3 69. 

He has three top-10 finishes in the Masters, and his experience is untouched among many of his competitors. Look for the cigar-smoking Spaniard to make things interesting. 

Oosthuizen Will Falter

South African phenom Louis Oosthuizen captivated the golfing world in his 2010 Open Championship victory and grabbed the lead early in this year's Masters, but he won't be able to hang with the top of the pack in Augusta.

Getting a double bogey on a par-5 is never a good sign. His inconsistency from hole to hole will cause him to play himself out of contention. 

Tiger Will Have to Give Away a Few Autographed Gloves

Tiger Woods always will have the skill and determination to claw his way back from some awful shots, but those awful shots will always be there.

He's struggled with his drive at times on the course, and we'd be fools to believe he won't sail one or two more into the crowds. Honestly, I'd love to get hit by Tiger's shot and get an autographed glove of his in return. 

McIlroy Will Continue to Dominate Near the Green

So far in this year's Masters, Rory McIlroy has been able to redeem some tough shots with brilliant chipping on the way to easy putts.  

McIlroy will have to continue his brilliant play near the green if he wants to make a run at redemption for the last few years.

Sergio Garcia's Run Won't Last

Spanish veteran Sergio Garcia made a run on Friday's front-nine, but that won't last.

Garcia won't be able to stay hot enough to keep up with the surging group of stars in this year's pool.

Peter Hanson Will Be Among the Top Contenders

Swedish surprise Peter Hanson used a minus-4 on Thursday to catapult among the leaders heading into the clubhouse on Friday.

Hanson has been around for a while and made noise in the 2011 US Open by finishing seventh. His best golf is still ahead of him in this tournament.

He's never made the cut in the Masters, so look for him to use this motivation to possibly earn himself a green jacket.

A Scorecard Smudge Won't Be Able to Save Luke Donald

World No. 1 golfer Luke Donald was nearly disqualified after Thursday's first round because of a smudge on his scorecard that indicated a 73 instead of his actual score, 75.

Whether another smudge appears on his scorecard, he's in danger of missing the cut, and then he will be watching Saturday and Sunday's action from home. 

Tom Watson Will Inch His Way Toward an Even Score

Tom Watson's chances of winning another major are obviously out of question, but his enjoyment and cheery approach to the game always makes for an admirable showing.

He finished Thursday with a plus-five 77, but he's currently projected to make the cut. Fans would love to see him finish close to an even score and finish above some of the world's best golfers like Luke Donald. 

Fred Couples Won't Last as a Contender

The 1992 Masters champion made an impressive run Friday, birdieing five of the front-nine holes. 

The 52-year-old Fred Couples is a former No. 1 player and will go down as an all-time great, but his best days are behind him and he won't be able to hang with the likes of Woods, McIlroy and Westwood. 

Tiger Will Be Within Two Shots of the Lead

Tiger was five shots out of the lead after Thursday, but only by way of two straight bogeys to finish the day off. 

Woods' game is at the best it's been since his personal debacle. He's determined to get his swing back on track and rise to the public's lofty expectations for the first time in years. 

Zach Johnson Will Benefit from Windy Conditions

Former Masters champ Zach Johnson had a minus-2 Thursday score of 70, including an eagle on the par-five 13th hole. But as conditions turn windy on Friday, he should benefit as he did in 2007 when he won at Augusta National.

He faltered with a 74 on Friday and has fallen back to even, but he's still certainly within striking distance and has proven to be an expert with the conditions and the course. 

Vijay Singh Will Disappear

Vijay Singh wasn't able to find the same birdies Friday as he did in the opening round, and that trend will continue on Moving Day.

The veteran Singh will continue his downward spiral Saturday. 

An Unlikely Hero Will Emerge as the Frontrunner

Professional golf is as competitive today as it's ever been, and it's a given that golf's new stars will emerge at this year's Masters.

So far, it looks as though Jason Dufner and Ben Crane as well as others could catapult themselves toward national exposure. Look for one of these studs to climb the leaderboard and become a contender heading into Sunday. 

Bubba Watson Will Falter

Crowd favorite Bubba Watson cruised to a score of 69 on Thursday behind strong play, but had a weak showing on Friday, and that trend will continue on the tournament's final two rounds. 

Strong Wind Will Affect Play

A perfect golf day on Thursday is taking a turn toward a much windier day as course conditions start to turn slightly. 

Some players aren't fazed by such conditions, but with such a large group of contenders at this point, these wind gusts will blow some golfers out of contention.

Leaderboard Will Be Top-Heavy

As the stars align near the top of the leaderboard and many little-known golfers make their presence known at the Masters, there will be many players at the top of the scorecard and in contention for the green jacket.

The leaderboard will continue to get tighter and tighter at the top as the tournament comes nearer to a close, and the leaders should swap spots nearly every hole. 

2011 Winner Charl Schwartzel Will Fall out of Contention

The 2011 Masters champion will be putting this year's green jacket on somebody else Sunday afternoon.

He had a decent 72 on the opening round, but the leaders continue to play better and better at Augusta while Schwartzel is staying consistently 'average'. 

Tiger and Former Caddie Won't Be Paired Up

The fallout of the Steve Williams-Tiger Woods saga made for some interesting storylines as Williams is currently caddying for Adam Scott, but Scott hasn't played his best at Augusta this year and won't be anywhere near Woods on the leaderboard.

As Scott struggles to stay near an even par, Woods will be surging toward the top of the leaderboard. As sensational as it would be, the two won't be paired up on Saturday or Sunday. 

Matt Kuchar Will Surge

Matt Kuchar currently is at a decent minus-1, but he boasts one of the most consistent scorecards in this year's tournament. 

He hasn't bogeyed a hole since the fourth hole on Thursday, and par after par mixed in with a few birdies will have him surging up the leaderboard and in contention come Sunday. 

Mickelson Will Struggle to Stay in Contention

Phil Mickelson stayed in contention Thursday and Friday after a triple bogey on 10th, but he hasn't been able to make a run.

Lefty will make the cut and stay within striking distance on Saturday, but the field is too strong this year and Mickelson's game won't put him in a position to contend Sunday. 

Rory McIlroy Will Be in the Final Pairing

McIlroy bounced back from double-bogeying the opening hole of the Masters and surged Friday to within a few shots of the lead.

The Northern Irish star has arguably been the world's best golfer over the last two years, and his play so far in the Masters is indicative of that. He may still collapse on Sunday as he's been known to do at Augusta National, but look for him to enter Sunday's final round as one of the favorites.