Sky Sports.com - Masters 2008

Westwood: can he break his major duck?

Every golfer in the world dreams of winning the Masters, but you have to be of a certain breed to become an Augusta champion.

If you scroll down the list of winners of this event, you'll see that it takes something very special to win here; from Jack Nicklaus to Nick Faldo, from Gary Player to Tiger Woods this tournament has provided us with some magnificent memories from some magnificent players.

Back in the 1980s, the pre-lengthened Augusta National was a shot-makers golf course but these days you don't need to be hugely long to win. However, you do need to be tactically astute and be able to shape the ball, right to left in particular on the par fives.

A good short game will be crucial this weekend because if you do miss the hole on the wrong side, it can be virtually impossible to get up and down. You also need to be a brave and very good putter, because the greens are lightning fast.

However, what you need more than anything to win a major championship is that 'X-Factor', that indefinable mental toughness that only the truly great players possess. That is what separates the great players from the very good players.

We saw it in Jack Nicklaus in 1986 when, at the age of 46, he holed a huge putt up the 17th green to put the seal on one of the greatest Augusta comebacks of all time.

We also saw it from Faldo in 1996 when he sensationally chased down Greg Norman's six-stroke lead on the final day. Faldo was relentless in his pursuit of The Great White Shark and bullied his way to the green jacket in sensational circumstances.

And, of course, there was Gary Player's sublime Sunday 64 to come from seven shots behind Tom Watson to take the green jacket in 1978. Gary epitomised what you need to be a major champion with the sheer will and determination he showed on the back nine that year.

This week's Masters will be the final time Player graces the Augusta course and while his championship-winning era is well behind him, who would bet against him producing some of the old magic one more time?

The word legend is often overused, but when it comes to golf, Gary Player certainly deserves that title. As a three-time Masters winner, I hope he receives a fitting farewell.

Contenders

So who has that 'X-Factor'? Who are the major contenders for this year's Masters?

Of course, one name can be written in gold pen in capital letters at the top of the list - Tiger Woods.

He has won four times at Augusta and although he has only played in three individual tournaments since a nine-month injury-lay-off, he rightly arrives here as the clear favourite.

There is no doubt that he is the man to beat once again. His victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational proved he is right back on the top of his game - and I saw enough from him at the Accenture Match Play and the CA Championship to suggest that his injury problems have not diminished his talents.

I've no doubt he has been setting himself up to peak at Augusta and it would be foolish to bet against him winning major number 15.

However, Tiger could finish the weekend as the world number two if Phil Mickelson is victorious and he finishes outside the top five.

As a two-time winner here, Mickelson will fancy his chances because he is running into form at just the right time. He knows what it takes to win the Masters and his short game is among the best in the world.

His improved swing, which he has been working on with Butch Harmon, took him to victory in the CA Championship and that performance shows he is the leading contender behind Tiger this week.

Europeans

Looking at the odds, it's no surprise to see a number of other American names such as Zach Johnson and Anthony Kim high up the list, but maybe it is time for a European to wear the green jacket once again.

Europeans enjoyed a boom period in the 1980s and 1990s with the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Faldo and Ian Woosnam all taking the title. However, nobody from this side of the pond has won since José María Olazábal in 1999, so you could say we are long overdue.

Padraig Harrington's victory in the USPGA Championship ended a long, long drought for Europeans in that particular major and that could spur our best players on to repeat the trick at Augusta.

Of course, Harrington must be among the favourites. More than anybody, he took advantage of Woods' absence last year and proved he has all the tools to perform on the very highest stage.

Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson is another who could make the step up to major champion having proved he can beat the best in the world on his day. His compatriot Henrik Stenson is also worth keeping an eye on.

Justin Rose is another player on the rise; it was noticeable during the Tavistock Cup that he is swinging better and looking an awfully lot better over the putter as well. If he is well rested, then his focus will be on the majors.

And Justin's good friend Ian Poulter will be hoping to make amends after a miserable final round here last year. He proved at The Open that his game stands up under pressure and I know that a major championship is well within his sights.

Package

A lot of people will be watching Rory McIlroy in his first Masters and normally I would say that a top-10 finish would be beyond a 19-year-old debutant.

But not this kid. Despite his tender years, he's got the full package. Regular readers of this column will know I have tipped him to win a major by the age of 23 - and I wouldn't be surprised if he contends this weekend.

However, if it isn't Woods or Mickelson then my tip for the Masters has to be Lee Westwood - and I'm speaking from my head, not my heart when I say that.

Don't be fooled by the fact he didn't win a tournament last year, Lee is a world-class golfer and he is improving all the time. He has achieved everything there is to achieve in this game - except win a major - and I know for a fact he is determined to put that right in 2009.

He was within a whisker of victory at the US Open, so he knows he has all the right components and I feel the fast greens of Augusta will suit him. When you combine that with his ball-striking he is a real contender.

I believe Lee has that 'X-Factor' - and I reckon he'd look quite good in green too....