5 golfers to watch

Rory McIlroy

Age: 28

World ranking: 7

Best Masters finish: Fourth (2015)

Of note: Even with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods poised to contend, you could argue the most compelling winner would be McIlroy. The Northern Irishman has at least one victory in each of the other three majors, and a win at Augusta would put him in an exclusive club with Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Gary Player – those who have won all four modern majors, the career grand slam. “Feel like I couldn’t come in here with better form,” he said. That’s daunting.

Phil Mickelson

Age: 47

World ranking: 18

Best Masters finish: First (2004, 2006, 2010)

Of note: When Jack Nicklaus won his 18th and final major at Augusta as a 46-year-old in 1986, it seemed an improbable one-off. But Mickelson is quick to point out, “The longevity of careers are different.” Should he somehow snag his fourth green jacket, he would eclipse Nicklaus as the oldest Masters champion. He still has all the shots. He still has the most moxie. His self-belief might be unparalleled. Why not?

Jordan Spieth

Age: 24

World ranking: 4

Best Masters finish: First (2015)

Of note: Spieth has recorded 16 career rounds at the Masters and has led the tournament after exactly half of them. Yes, his 2018 hasn’t lived up to the standards he sets for himself, with his first top-five finish coming in Houston in the week leading into Augusta. Still, “I will never underestimate him,” Mickelson said. “He’s an extremely rare talent and has so much game.” Before his 25th birthday, he already has three major championships. His four finishes at Augusta: tied for second, first, tied for second, tied for 11th. It’d be more of a surprise to see a leaderboard with Spieth’s name not on it than with Spieth at the top.

Bubba Watson

Age: 39

World ranking: 19

Best Masters finish: First (2012, 2014)

Of note: For much of 2016 and ’17, the bombing Watson seemed lost. He went winless for two full years and tumbled to 98th in the world rankings – a disappointment for a player of his talent. But Watson’s two wins this season have restored his confidence, and there may not be a player in the field whose game is more suited to win here – a left-hander who can hit a giant cut, which shapes the ball perfectly on the par-5s, which he turns into tiny little par-4s.

Tiger Woods

Age: 42

World ranking: 103

Best Masters finish: First (1997, 2000, 2001, 2005)

Of note: From 2005-2011, Woods couldn’t be yanked off the leaderboard here, finishing no lower than tied for sixth. Now, it’s improbable that he’s poised to return to that spot – but he is. Injuries forced him to miss the Masters in 2014, ’16 and ’17, and he has been candid about how difficult those days were. “Dark,” he called them. Now, after he contended in his last two events, there’s a real sense that he’s back. “The sound of the ball is unreal,” said former Masters champ Fred Couples.

– The Washington Post