The Masters 2011: Tiger Woods and 10 Players Who Could Wear the Green Jacket

    James Evens@JamesEvensCorrespondent IApril 6, 2011

    The Masters 2011: Tiger Woods and 10 Players Who Could Wear the Green Jacket

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      AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 06: Tiger Woods hits a shot as his caddie Steve Williams looks on during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Image
      Andrew Redington/Getty Images

      Now that the national championship game is over for college basketball, it is time to watch some golf. Yes ladies and gentleman, the Masters is here. The most prestigious tournament in all of golf.

      This season in golf has been unpredictable until a week ago, when Phil Mickelson broke through and won a tournament.

      Does he have the edge over the field, or will Tiger come charging back?

      Here are my top 10 favorites to win the Masters this year.

      James Evens serves as a National Featured Columnist for college football and basketball, as well as the FC for the Purdue Boilermakers.    Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.

    10. Ricky Fowler

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      ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 26: Rickie Fowler plays a shot on the 7th hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 26, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Image
      Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

      Fowler has been one of those young guys that has taken the tour by storm. He is known for his flashy style and aggressive play. 

      Fowler has yet to win a tournament and what better time would it be to get out the tournament winning jitters at the Masters.

      Ricky has been playing extremely well and has a shot at winning this weekend. 

      Watch out for this kid, as he is America's next big thing in golf.


    9. Bubba Watson

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      ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 27: Bubba Watson of the USA plays his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at the Bay Hill Lodge and Country Club on March 27, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Phot
      David Cannon/Getty Images

      Watson has already won once this year and once last season as well.  Watson is playing some great golf and is one of the most exciting players to watch on tour.

      His long driving will set up perfectly for Augusta and it will be interesting to see if he can step up and win his first major.

      Bubba could step up and steal the show at this years Masters.

    8. Martin Kaymer

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      AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Martin Kaymer of Germany watches a shot during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
      Andrew Redington/Getty Images

      Although he is the number one player in the world right now, Kaymer isn't a favorite to win his first green jacket.  He has missed the cut the two previous times he has played in the Masters and just hasn't fared well at Augusta.

      However, Kaymer is playing the best golf of his life right now and could come in and win the tournament.

      He will try to become the first European since 199 to win the Masters. It is no easy feat as Europeans have not fared well at the Masters.

      There have only been 11 Europeans ever win the prestigious event.

    7. Rory McIlroy

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      AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his shot during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
      Jamie Squire/Getty Images

      Although McIlroy has yet to win a major tournament, this could be the year that the winner of the Masters has not won a major yet.  

      With all of the young guns coming onto the scene, it is anyone's game and McIlroy is a definite favorite.

      After his excellent performance on the Ryder Cup team, the young Irishman will look to become the youngest Masters champion of all time.

    6. Luke Donald

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      AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Sergio Garcia of Spain and Luke Donald of England share a laugh during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
      Jamie Squire/Getty Images

      Donald is one of those guys that seems like he just came on tour yesterday, but in all reality, his first tour win came 10 years prior.

      Donald is coming off a huge victory at the Accenture Match Play this season but is still looking for that first major championship.

      With the field wide-open this season, could this be Donald's chance to go down in history forever as a Masters Champion? Only time will tell.

    5. Paul Casey

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      PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 18: Paul Casey of England plays a shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 18, 2011 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
      Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

      Although Casey got cut last year at the Masters, he is playing some great golf. Although Casey hasn't won on the U.S. tour since 2009, he is coming off a big victory on the European Tour at the Volvo Championships.

      He is returning from an injury, but he has showed that he is back in full strength and ready to take a crack at his first major championship. 

    4. Nick Watney

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      PALM HARBOR, FL - MARCH 18: Nick Watney plays a shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 18, 2011 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
      Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

      Watney is one of the hottest players in golf right now. The American is coming off his first victory in big fashion at the WGC Cadillac Championships just a few short weeks ago.

      Watney shot 16 under and won the tournament by two strokes.

      Just like almost every player on this list, he is looking for his first major, and this would be a great time for him to step up and take it.

    3. Lee Westwood

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      AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: Lee Westwood of England (L) walks alongside Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland down a fairway during a practice round prior to the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2011 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo b
      Jamie Squire/Getty Images

      If the Europeans have a great shot this year, it is from Westwood. Westwood is a veteran, but hasn't won this season yet but has been playing great golf.

      Last season he finished second at the Masters and is looking to ride that momentum to a major championship.  

      One of these guys is going to win a major this season, the only question is who is it going to be and is it going to be now.  Westwood has a real shot at the Masters, but will he cease it?

    2. Tiger Woods

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      ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 27: Tiger Woods plays a shot on the 3rd hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 27, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
      Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

      It's hard to bet against Tiger Woods. He has finally showed signs of coming back and the four time Masters champion is looking to make it five.

      He has not won a Masters since 2005 and is looking to end that as well as his long streak without a victory of any kind.  If Tiger is lurking at the end of the third round it could be game over for the other guys, especially if his putter shows up.

    1. Phil Mickelson

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      HUMBLE, TX - APRIL 03: Phil Mickelson hits his second shot on the eighth hole during the final round of the Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club on April 3, 2011 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
      Michael Cohen/Getty Images

      Phil is on fire right now. After a very impressive victory last weekend in Houston, Phil is hot and hot at the right time.

      If he plays like he did at the Shell Houston Open he will be the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters championships. 

      After an early season of struggles, it looks as though Phil is back and ready to compete for a major, but is everyone else?