Dave Tindall's in-depth preview and best bets for this week's Masters tournament at Augusta.
Dave Tindall's in-depth preview and best bets for this week's Masters tournament at Augusta National
The anticipation ahead of every Masters is always through the roof.
Eight months have passed since the previous summer's USPGA so there's a huge thirst to see some major golf.
And what better place to witness it than the beautiful and majestic Augusta National - the course we feel we know better than any other in tour.
As usual, the storylines have been building since the 2013 season got under way and with Tiger Woods heading to Augusta with three wins under his belt already this year he's the clear favourite.
But just when it seemed there was no chance of the fantasy final round last-group pairing of Woods and McIlroy - talked so much about 12 months ago - it's back on again after young Rory gave his ailing confidence a huge boost with an excellent second place in Houston on Sunday.
McIlroy was denied by Scotland's Martin Laird who became the first non-American to win on the PGA Tour in 2013. So will that win spark a surge from the Brits and Europeans?
Or does this one have Tiger's name all over it?
The course
The 7,445 yard par 72 Augusta National starts with the hardest hole on the course (the 1st averaged 4.39 in 2012 and 10 yards have been added this year!) and then offers some immediate respite with the par five second (the easiest hole last year, 4.64). There are birdies and eagles to be had but bogeys, doubles and worse lurk too. Length is a definite advantage although shorter hitters can occasionally buck the trend such as Mike Weir in 2003 and Zach Johnson in 2007. This year the course looks in immaculate condition and, as usual, leaving uphill putts on the fast, undulating greens is a huge benefit.
The weather
It's been dry in the build-up to the tournament and hot, sunny conditions should greet the players for Thursday's start. However, t-storms could hit on Thursday afternoon and could be severe overnight. Friday could see more morning showers before clearing in the afternoon. The weekend should see the good weather return.
Last year - Bubba Watson
Watson struck a blow for the big-hitters-thrive-at-Augusta argument last year and he topped the Driving Distance stats for the week. However, his iron play was also of high quality as he finished fourth for the week in Greens In Regulation. The 'X' factor - so prevalent in past Masters winners - was his ability to conjur up some magic when it mattered most. He did that in the play-off with Louis Oosthuizen when hooking an amazing 52-degree gap wedge out of the trees from right of the fairway and onto the green. Oosthuizen had led early in the final round after an incredible albatross two at the par five second and he, along with Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Lee Westwood all left the course with a feeling of what might have been.
The leading contenders (and Sky Bet odds)
Tiger Woods (9/2): It seems everything points to four-time Masters champ Tiger this year. He's won three times in the build-up - all at venues where he's won numerous times. And, helped by a 30-minute lesson from Steve Stricker, he looks the world's best putter again - a notion backed up by his No.1 ranking in Strokes-Gained Putting. But one question has to be asked about a player so short in the betting. Why hasn't
