Jeff Rude
Winner: Retief Goosen. The two-time U.S. Open champion meets the two most important criteria: Playing well and has done well at the site. Looking at his form currently and at Augusta National, he makes sense. Has four top threes in the Masters and six top-10 finishes in 2010.
Sleeper: Fred Couples. He’s 50 and hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2003. But he’s loaded with confidence after going 2-1-1-1 on the Champions Tour, and he’s driving and putting about as well as he ever has. Plus, he loves Augusta and knows how to play there, winning in 1992 and coming close two other times.
Jeff Babineau
Winner: Padraig Harrington. Here’s why: Because Phil isn’t quite in form, Augusta National has had Ernie’s number since 2004 and the golf gods simply won’t allow Tiger all the way back to victory circle in his first start back. So who from the pack will rise? Harrington’s game is leaps ahead of where it was this time last year, and besides, do you think an Irishman would look good in green come Sunday?
Sleeper: Matt Kuchar. He has a dozen top-20 finishes since the FedEx Cup playoffs began last fall, and showed he is in form on a tough course with a tie for eighth in Houston. With his Georgia Tech connection, and having played Augusta National in his amateur days, the Masters remains a very special tournament for him. He putts well. Keep an eye on him.
Jim McCabe
Winner: Retief Goosen. Could be playing the steadiest golf of his career, with four finishes inside the top five already this season. Amid a sea of madness, why not the calmest of them all?
Sleeper: Camilo Villegas. Last year, Argentina; this year, Colombia. The South Americans have arrived.
James Achenbach
Winner: Retief Goosen. If Goosen makes putts, he contends. The South African is a wonderful iron player.
Sleeper: Matt Kuchar. Forget “fairways and greens” for the 2010 Masters – it’s “irons and putts” that will win this year.
Dan Mirocha
Winner: Anthony Kim. Forget about the history that goes with winning the week before the Masters. And forget about Big Easy, Goose, Tiger, Freddie . . . all the fashionable picks. Don’t overlook AK. He thrives on the big stage and can go low at Augusta. Remember that 11-birdie, second-round 65 last year? I see Kim lighting it up again this year.
Sleeper: Lee Westwood. Gritty guy who seems to lurk around the lead in more and more majors.
Sean Martin
Winner: Padraig Harrington. Maybe not the first guy who comes to mind, but he finished in the top 10 at Doral and Innisbrook. He’s got a solid Masters record, with three top-10 finishes, including 2007 and ’08.
Sleeper: Ryan Moore. He’s playing for the first time since turning pro. Happy to be back after having to WD from the ’06 Masters because of that broken bone in his hand that hampered much of his pro career. Moore tied for 13th in ’05 to earn low-amateur honors and tied for 35th two years earlier.
