The Top 10 Storylines in the 2013 Masters

The most anticipated golf tournament of the year is finally here. There’s nothing like the brilliant green, the magnolias, the azaleas at Augusta National Golf Club.

The Masters, for many people, signals the official start of the golf season.

This one could be really special with Tiger Woods playing well, Phil Mickelson showing signs of being able to put a run of good golf together and Rory McIlroy showing continued signs of improvement in his game.

There are plenty of enticing storylines entering the week.

Here are 10 of the best.

10. Can Steve Stricker Out-Putt the Field and Win the Masters?

Mention putting on the PGA Tour over the last several years and one name gets mentioned more quickly than any others:

Steve Stricker. He has a pair of top-10 finishes, but the 46-year-old has played well in the early stages of this season.

There’s nothing like a guy who has a history of making big putts on a course where putting plays such a big role in a tournament.

Yes, the course is long and Stricker’s never been a bomber.

But don’t discount the magic of the flat stick.

9. Can Ian Poulter Finally Contend at Augusta National?

Mr. Passionate Ryder Cupper has gotten to the point in his career where it’s time to put up or shut up in a major.

He’s played in eight Masters, and the best he’s done is a seventh-place finish last year.

Poulter is 37 and finds himself without a major. He’s 12th in the official World Golf Rankings, which means he an elite player, obviously.

He won’t become a superstar until he wins a major title.

Maybe last year’s finish is an indication that he’s ready to contend.

8. Will Sergio Garcia Be in a Proper Frame of Mind This Week?

There is some thinking that because of a bit of resurgence in his game, Sergio Garcia might be rounding into some sort of form that might make him a contender in the Masters this week.

But don’t forget what he told Spanish reporters in 2012 after shooting 75 in the third round:

“I’m not good enough. I don’t have the thing I need to have.“In 13 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place… In any major.”

Even at age 33, the best adjective to describe Garcia is petulant.

Which Garcia will show up Thursday morning?

7. How Big of a Factor Will the Weather Be?

Weather—Golf is a game played outdoors and, as a result, how it is played is many times determined by the weather.

The Masters test is at its best when the course is playing dry and fast, allowing officials to play it back and let the boys have at it.

They’ve not had that option since the yardage has been stretched to over 7,400.

The forecast at this point looks like this might be one of those years.

Good weather is forecast until Thursday, so the course should be just about perfect for the start.

It’s a big if for the tournament rounds, but that could change, of course.

6. What Kind of Title Defense Will Bubba Make?

I said it last year and I’m sticking to it.

I don’t see Bubba as a multi-major champion.

He was one of those guys who caught lightning in a bottle, played very well for 72 holes and played a spectacular second shot on the first playoff hole.

He hits it a mile and can make golf courses a lot easier with that length. But if his swing is off just a bit, Augusta National will expose it.

How he handles the defending champion pressure will be very interesting.

5. How Will the Youngest Player Ever Fare in the Masters?

Over the years, we’ve seen seasoned veterans reduced to tears, grumbling, mumbling and saying bad words after struggling through a round at Augusta National. It’s treacherous, it’s tricky, it’s tempting and it’s downright evil.

So how is 14-year-old Tian­lang Guan from China going to fare on this major test?

Chances are you’ll have to watch him quickly.

The odds of him making the cut aren’t very good, but that’s the case even if he was an older mid-Amateur.

It’s safe to say that the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title Guan won to qualify for the Masters will remain his biggest accomplishment.

4. Antother Fantastic Finish?

Two years ago, Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes at Augusta National to fend off a handful of contenders.

Last year, Bubba Watson gets into a playoff and pulls off an improbable rescue shot from the woods right of the 10th fairway, snaps a 40-yard hook with a wedge and gets on the green to set up a two-putt win.

The roars are back on the back nine at Augusta National and it’s awesome.

I can’t wait to see who causes the roars this week.

3. Will Rory McIlroy and His Game Be Ready for the Masters?

There will be more eyes on McIlroy during the Masters than on anyone else.

He’s not the No. 1 player in the world anymore, so that pressure has been alleviated.

But given his implosion on the back nine of the 2010 Masters and his tie for 40th last year, he needs to play well here to get people talking about him in a positive way.

His season thus far has been a constant barrage of negativity about his play, his equipment change and how’s not handled the pressure of being the top-ranked player in the world.

2. What Will Phil Do Next?

This three-time Masters champion will most likely drive down Magnolia Lane as the most puzzling entrant in this year’s tournament.

Mickelson gave his legion of followers a burst of hope when he exploded to 28 under par in winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open. But he’s built no momentum after that, instead riding the roller coaster that is so much a part of his game.

Does a tie for 16th in the Shell Houston Open bode well for this week?

We’ll not know until Thursday.

1. Does Tiger Woods Jump-Start the Nicklaus Chase?

This may well be the most important major championship Tiger Woods has played in during his career.

Yes, he has four green jackets hanging in a closet somewhere, but he hasn’t conquered Augusta National Golf Club since when the last major “Tiger-proofing” took place.

That’s eight years, if you’re a bit lacking with numbers.

If he’s going to catch Jack Nicklaus’ major title record of 18, he needs to get winning again.