Masters Favorites 2013: Tiger Woods and Stars Who Will Be in Contention

The 77th Masters tournament this year at Augusta National Golf Club has the makings to be one of the most interesting tournaments ever.

Tiger Woods has burst back on the golf scene in the past year after several years of irrelevance. USA Today reported his achievements so far this season: three wins and a return to his No. 1 overall world ranking.

Tiger’s resurgence has been the biggest story this year in golf, and he is a clear favorite to win the Masters. Tiger has been dominant in the Masters, even with a disappointing performance in 2012. He was tied for 40th that year, which was his first Masters finish outside of the top 10 since 2004.

There are a few other golfers beside Woods who have a good shot at winning the Masters.

Phil Mickelson is also extremely experienced in the tournament.

Lefty has three Masters wins since the turn of the century, with his most recent one coming in 2010. It will take consistent and great play for Mickelson to beat Woods, but if anyone can do it he’s the best bet.

Last year’s winner, Bubba Watson, is another big name who should contend for the green jacket. He hasn’t won another major championship in his career, but his ability to drive the ball absurdly long distances will keep him in the running.

The last golfer to be in serious contention for the Masters is the inconsistent Rory McIlroy. McIlroy won the U.S. Open in 2011 and the PGA Championship in 2012, and the Sun reported that McIlroy’s recent second-place finish gave him a confidence boost. His third career major victory could very easily be the Masters this year.

Other golfers might have strong performances at Augusta, but these three are the most likely candidates to contend with Woods in the tournament.

Expect a strong showing from each golfer as they all search for a win on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

*All major championship statistics provided by http://golfmajorchampionships.com/.