Masters Field 2013: Golfers to Watch on Day 2

Sergio Garcia and Marc Leishman share the 18-hole lead after they both shot six-under 66s in the opening round of the 2013 Masters.

It was a prime day for scoring, as 33 out of 93 golfers broke par.

With thunderstorms expected overnight in Augusta, good scoring should continue on a soft course until the winds pick up after lunch.

With that in mind, here are 10 players to follow as the second round plays out in Georgia.

10. Bubba Watson

Tee Time: 1:30 p.m. ET (paired with Ian Poulter and Steven Fox)

Why You Need to Watch: The defending champion is in trouble simply making the cut. At three over, Watson sits nine behind and needs a strong day just to make the weekend. Watson has no idea what he is going to do before any given shot and, with his later starting time, his attempt to make a move will make for compelling television.

What Will Make or Break His Day: Watson wears his emotions on his sleeve. If he gets going strong out of the gate, he can rip off a low score. If he continues to struggle, it will go bad early. Really no middle ground here. 

Friday Prediction: A long day for Watson, as he will be south of the cut line before he starts with the wind blowing. Another 75 is a good possibility.

9. Rickie Fowler

Tee Time: 1:52 p.m. ET (paired with Jason Day and Padraig Harrington)

Why You Need to Watch: In search of his first major, Fowler opened Thursday with a four-under 68. After struggling in the majors last year, how will Fowler deal with being a couple of shots off the lead? With as much potential as Rory McIlroy, the key is going to be how the 24-year-old Fowler follows up after a great first round.

What Will Make or Break His Day: Anything that breaks par will be a good day for Fowler. He will need to keep his confidence up and can do that with a good day Friday. He was lucky breaking 70 with two double-bogeys on Day 1. He cannot afford to give up so many shots again.

Friday Prediction: His confidence is apparent. He shoots under par and plays in the last group Saturday.

8. Marc Leishman

Tee Time: 12:35 p.m. ET (paired with Jose-Maria Olazabal and T.J. Vogel)

Why You Need to Watch: After a first nine of one-under 35, Leishman fired a five-under 31 on the second. If he can continue his hot pace, he can dictate where he plays Saturday. In his other trip here in 2010, he followed up a very good even-par with a seven-over 79.

What Will Make or Break His Day: If he continues to hit greens like he did Thursday, he will give himself some scoring opportunities. He must continue to attack that second nine. If he lets his position get into is head, then trouble will find him.

Friday Prediction: He needs to forget about his great round Thursday. If he breaks par, he will have had a good day. Certainly doable.

7. Dustin Johnson

Tee Time: 9:50 a.m. ET (paired with Fred Couples and Branden Grace)

Why You Need to Watch: Johnson's opening five-under 67 is good enough for a third-place position. For as long as he is off the tee, he has not been able to turn his talent into a major championship. Now that he has put himself in the position to contend again, how will he be able to focus? That game within the game is reason to watch.

What Will Make or Break His Day: If Johnson does not rush his game, he can stay within the lead pack. He would take an even-par 72 and run to the weekend. If he starts to overthink things, he will make mistakes and damage his hopes for a major.

Friday Prediction: Even-par 72 and close enough to pounce from behind on Saturday.

6. Sergio Garcia

Tee Time: 9:39 a.m. ET (paired with Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera)

Why You Need to Watch: Considered a dark horse coming into the week, Garcia's six-under 66 was his first bogey-free round at Augusta since 2002. He has always had the talent, but the ambition has been questioned. Playing more relaxed than ever, Garcia looks ready to seize the moment.

What Will Make or Break His Day: If he can stay within the the top five Friday, he can go into the weekend with the confidence he has lacked in big moments the last few years. But if he gets off to a rough start, then bad habits can come back, and Garcia would shoot down the leaderboard.

Friday Prediction: Garcia breaks par and goes out in the last group Saturday.

5. Fred Couples

Tee Time: 9:50 a.m. ET (paired with Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace)

Why You Need to Watch: It is not very often a 53-year-old can say he is in contention for a major. Couples' love for Augusta is obvious and infectious. Even if he was 10 shots back, his enthusiasm alone is fun and worth watching.

What Will Make or Break His Day: Couples has put himself in a position to win this. He needs to conserve some energy for the long weekend ahead. He also needs his back to cooperate and not think about the task at hand. Again, things go wrong when the mind wanders. 

Friday Prediction: He will shoot around par (plus or minus one) and stay in contention for a weekend Saturday move.

4. Phil Mickelson

Tee Time: 10:23 a.m. ET (paired with Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen)

Why You Need to Watch: The swashbuckling nature of Mickelson is enough of a reason. In the hunt after an opening round of one-under 71, Mickelson knows he can be aggressive and not get in trouble. Nobody harnesses that Augusta magic like Phil. 

What Will Make or Break His Day: If there is anyone in the field capable of shooting a 64, it is Phil. Ideally, he wants to shoot around a 70 and stay in touch with the leaders. If he presses too early, he can post a bad score and deflate his chances.  

Friday Prediction: A three-under 69 to position himself for the weekend.

3. Rory McIlroy

Tee Time: 10:34 a.m. ET (paired with Keegan Bradley and Freddie Jacobson) 

Why You Must Watch: After a very frustrating opening round of even-par 72, McIlroy finds himself six shots back and unsure of his game. If Rory is going to have a say this weekend, he needs to find that inner resolve that led him to two blowouts in major wins. We will know where his game is after Friday.

What Will Make or Break His Day: If he can cut down on the missed approach shots, he can go low on the soft course. A 68 gets him back into contention. If he struggles around par like he did Thursday, he limps into the weekend with sagging shoulders.

Friday Prediction: A two-under 70 and an outside chance.

2. Tiger Woods

Tee Time: 1:41 p.m. ET (paired with Luke Donald and Scott Piercy)

Why You Need To Watch: Tiger will be looking to improve on his two-under 70 performance. The overwhelming favorite is going to need to shoot around the same score under more difficult conditions to position himself for a weekend run for his fifth green jacket.

What Will Make or Break His Day: If Tiger can make a putt or two more or keep his drives in play, he certainly can make a move up the board. He does not have to be in the lead, but he needs to be close enough to give those above him a reason to look over their shoulders. His week will not look good if he slips and goes the wrong way.

Friday Prediction: Experience is your friend at Augusta. With the winds expected, he shoots his 70 and and moves into the top five. 

1. Tianlang Guan

Tee Time: 9:06 a.m. ET (paired with Ben Crenshaw and Matteo Manassero)

Why You Need To Watch: The youngest player in Masters history at 14, Guan's one-over 73 has him in great shape to make the cut. Playing with a poise of someone 10 years his senior, Guan can make a statement Friday by making the cut and contending for low amateur. 

What Will Make or Break His Day: Going out and shooting another 73 would be tremendous. After playing so well to get in this position, an 80 would be a disappointment

Friday Prediction: The score may be a couple strokes higher, but he somehow stays within 10 of the lead and makes the cut.