Masters Live: Ranking Americans with Shot at Green Jacket

Through two rounds of golf at Augusta, there are eight Americans among the top 18 golfers.

Four-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson is still in it, as well as 1992 Masters winner Fred Couples. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, won't be making this list after a three-over-par nightmare in the second round.

Here's a look at my top five Americans to take home the green jacket.

5. Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson has been one of the most surprising golfers in the first two rounds. Before this year, he had only appeared at the Masters three times, and he placed 42nd and 38th in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Watson has been very consistent so far. He shot a three-under-par 69 in the first round, followed by a one-under-par 71 on Friday. He's only one stroke behind leaders Jason Dufner and Fred Couples.

But I worry about Watson's putting game coming back to haunt him. Headed into the Masters, he was ranked 81st in putting per hole. It's hard for me to see him continuing like this on the challenging Augusta greens.

4. Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar is the No. 18 golfer in the world, but he's been a bit under the radar this year, for whatever reason.

But the 33-year-old placed in the top 10 in his last three PGA Tour events, and he's been one of the best putters in the world in 2012, ranked sixth in putting per hole.

After notching a one-under-par 71 on Thursday, Kuchar followed that up with a two-under-par on Friday. He is two strokes behind the lead and he birdied to end Day 2.

3. Jason Dufner

I admit that I didn't give Jason Dufner much of a chance at this year's Masters, primarily based on the fact that he had golfed Augusta just once in his career in 2010, and he finished 30th.

But you look at Dufner's overall play this year and it's no wonder he's currently one of the leaders. He's had four top-15 finishes, he's been consistent and he placed second at the PGA Championship last year.

Dufner has a legitimate shot, and he's ranked 14th in putting per hole this year.

2. Fred Couples

Fred Couples, at 52 years of age, is making another run at the Masters. Through two rounds at Augusta, he shares the lead with Jason Dufner.

Couples may have only one green jacket, but he owns 11 top-10 finishes in his career, including a sixth-place finish as recently as 2010. He seems to always be within range of his second Masters championship.

Couples has had a rough PGA Tour this season, missing the cut at the Northern Trust Open and placing 47th at the Houston Open. But he placed in the top 11 in three Champions tournaments this year, and he simply always shows up at majors.

1. Phil Mickelson

It never matters what Phil Mickelson is doing before the Masters—he almost always turns it on at Augusta.

Mickelson, a four-time champion at Augusta, placed fourth at the Houston Open and placed second in a playoff at the Northern Trust Open. Beyond that, he's putting beautifully, which is why he soared up the leaderboard on Friday.

After a disappointing two over par on Thursday, Mickelson rebounded in the second round with a four under par, closing to within three shots of the leaders.

Mickelson is in a great position to make another run at the green jacket.

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