Who will Master the first major of the year?

It’s April at last, meaning the time for another round of trouser-wetting excitement amongst golf aficionados is once again upon us. After watching the PGA players battle it out for the last few months, everyone’s attention will now be wandering towards the hallowed fairways of Augusta National where the first major of the season kicks off this coming Thursday.

Without any doubt this year promises one of the most open contests of recent times, with any number of players in the running. So just who will be slipping into a green jacket come Sunday?

• Lee Westwood

Nationality: English

Best Finish: 2nd (2010)

Recently deposed from atop the world rankings, Westwood, as much as I like him, doesn’t seem likely to capitalise on the form he has exhibited (thus far) at the Shell Houston Open. I sincerely hope he proves me wrong because he fully deserves major success and his window of opportunity is getting steadily smaller. An excellent strategist, he has to back up exemplary tee to green play with solid pressure putting. I think he’ll get a shot at a major later this year, but the Masters might be a bit too soon for him.

Verdict: 3rd in bookies’ rankings behind Augusta favourites Woods and Mickelson, probably the best odds of the three but still not worth the gamble. 11/18

• Tiger Woods

Nationality: USA

Best Finish: Winner (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005)

The perennial favourite showed flashes of form at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month but his swing simply isn’t working as well as he would like to allow full focus to remain on the target. Having said this – despite virtually no preparation following revelations regarding his tumultuous private life – he was still able to challenge for the first major of the year in 2010; eventually finishing tied for fourth place. Next to St Andrews, Augusta national is Woods’ favourite course and he loves playing there. Many fans and pundits alike are desperate to see Woods pick up his first Major since 2008 and there would be no better setting than Augusta.

Verdict: The stuff of dreams for fans but, magical it may be, Augusta is still located in reality. 9/18

• Martin Kaymer

Nationality: German

Best Finish: CUT (2008, 2009, 2010)

Without question, Kaymer has been playing better than anyone else in the world for the last several months. He already has a major, so he knows how to win one, and he is just a solid, consistent golfer. In addition, he’s been working for months on a draw, just to improve his chances at Augusta. Don’t be surprised to see the world number one follow in the footsteps of his countryman, Bernhard Langer, by winning in Georgia.

Verdict: One of the favourites, the only shadow cast over his chances is the 0-for-3 in cuts made at the venerable Georgia enclave. 15/18

• Luke Donald

Nationality: English

Best Finish: T3 (2005)

Yes, he may not be the strongest or longest hitter amongst the listed contenders, but if you cast your mind back to his Ryder Cup performances and the even more recent WGC-Accenture win then it becomes much easier to consider the current world number 3 as a genuine candidate for the 2011 title. 1991 winner, Ian Woosnam, certainly doesn’t think it “a bad little bet” to go with Donald. When asked whether he has the length for Augusta, the Welshman pensively replied: “maybe, if it’s running.” Woosnam went on to add: “he putts good. He’s good with his irons”, so if the ball carries by rolling there seems to be little else which might act unfavourably upon Donald’s chances. Do I really need to give you any more reasons for picking him?

Verdict: If the conditions are right, I feel it could be his year. 16/18

• Francesco Molinari

Nationality: Italian

Best Finish: T30 (2010)

Another increasingly consistent player with a Ryder Cup and the WGC-China under his belt. Molinari’s inclusion is probably a little optimistic as his putting seems to need a little work in order to cope with the difficult greens at Augusta. With one of the highest GIR percentages of anyone on tour this year though, you can’t entirely count him out of battling into contention at some point over the course of the week.

Verdict: I like his play more than I like his chances. 8/18

• Dustin Johnson

Nationality: USA

Best Finish: T30 (2009)

Although this may seem a strange inclusion based on his form, his previous results at the Masters and his temperament in major championships to date, Dustin Johnson is long enough off the tee for everything else to pale into insignificance, literally. Question marks will undoubtedly remain over his ability to close out a tournament when leading under pressure, however, he is one of the few players strong enough to hit those high fades with the longer irons required to stop the ball on Augusta’s rock-hard greens.

Verdict: Missing out on the PGA Championship at the end of last year will either galvanise Johnson to succeeding this year in the majors or else strip him of confidence. 10/18

• Paul Casey

Nationality: English

Best Finish: T6 (2004)

Casey worked his way back into the winners circle at the beginning of this year by shooting a mammoth score of 20 under par at the Volvo Golf Champions event in Bahrain. What’s more, he is moving up in the world rankings – despite not playing in the final warm up event before the Masters – due to the two-year rolling points system employed when determining the rankings. Casey is looking to emulate his previous best performances at Augusta and in doing so atone for the unfortunate mishap of three years ago when he was in contention until having to call a penalty on himself at the sixth during the final round.

Verdict: Knows how to perform and has an outside chance of doing well, outside is all it is though. 8/18

• Hunter Mahan

Nationality: USA

Best Finish: T8 (2010)

Mahan is another steady player with a WGC and Ryder Cup experience, and he’s gained two consecutive top-10 finishes in the last two Masters tournaments. The big complaint against Hunter is his short game. He may be good enough with the irons to leave himself mostly putts but consistency will really make or break him chances on the biggest of stages. I don’t fancy his chances, which probably means he’ll win by five shots.

Verdict: The rating may seem unduly harsh but if you struggle with the putter Augusta will really punish you in other areas as you attempt to compensate. 9/18

• Graeme McDowell

Nationality: Northern Irish

Best Finish: T17 (2009)

‘GMac’ proved twice last year that he has what it takes to win on the biggest stages what with his victory in the US Open at Pebble Beach and by securing the Ryder Cup for Europe in a tense final singles match. McDowell believes he can contend in Georgia providing he can get a grip on a long game which has hindered him over the past month. The 31-year-old appears to have sacrificed his long game somewhat in attempt to approve his short game following a troubled time around the greens at last year’s Masters. Implementing this strategy for success in time for Thursday will probably be a bit too much to ask. McDowell’s chances are looking slim at present.

Verdict: Half a chance as his game could go either way, faces the problem of having to play against himself as well as the rest of the field. 9/18

• Phil Mickelson

Nationality: USA

Best Finish: Winner (2004, 2006, 2010)

Phil? Well, Phil’s proven there’s something magical going on between him and Augusta, and as his emotionally charged triumph of last year has unequivocally proven, his chances there don’t seem to depend on how he’s playing going in. Despite his barren year since winning a third green jacket, Phil is still a contender to become only the fourth person to win in consecutive years. Between him and Tiger he seems the more likely to be in with a chance on Sunday.

Verdict: I cannot wait to see how ‘Lefty’ fairs in front of a highly supportive crowd on one of his favourite courses. If we can apply the phrase: worth a punt! 13/18