Thrash Talk: Will Tiger Tame Augusta for a Fifth Time?

This week's Thrash Talk is centered around next week's Masters. I listed some contenders, pretenders, surprises, etc. I won't give away any of my picks yet, but I will list a few questions to get the Masters Predictions party started.

1. List a couple contenders to win a green jacket.

2. List a couple pretenders.

3. Finally, list a couple surprise picks.

Remember to read my entire Thrash Talk tomorrow morning.

1. Contenders
- Tiger Woods
- Jim Furyk
- Charles Howell III
- Chris DiMarco

2. Pretenders
Tough to predict

3. Sleepers
- Sergio Garcia
- Paul Casey
- Henrik Stenson
- Geoff Ogilvy
- Trevor Immelman

1. List a couple contenders to win a green jacket. The usual suspects .... Tiger, Phil, Ernie 2. List a couple pretenders. Luke, Harrington, VJ 3. Finally, list a couple surprise picks. Stenson, Howell III, Chad Campbell These may not be suprise picks, but they are my darkhorses running behind the usual suspects..

1. Contenders .
Vijay Singh- As much as it pains me to type that, he has his game in good shape right now. I think Veej pulls off the victory.

Tiger- Obviously

2. Pretenders .
Phil Mickelson- Oh I think he'll contend certainly, but I think a disappointment for Phil fans will be him finishing out of the top 15.

Ernie Els- Something is telling me he's a pretender this year, perhaps when the British Open rolls around we'll talk. But too many other top players are playing great right now, he's right there but can't pull it off.

Sergio Garcia- Nope, not happenin'

3. Surprise Picks .
Luke Donald- not a huge surprise really, but I expect him to do well.

Mark Calcavecchia- big deal for Calc, he will not disappoint.

Jose Maria Olazabal- at some point it has to stop being a suprise, but Ollie contends in yet another Masters.

My picks and why;

Phill repeats,He will have 2 weeks at augusta to get ready and his driver is OK

Vijay second because his putter lets him down.

Tiger third he will have an off week with his putter.

CH3 his short game will not be up to snuff.

Thats it Phill will get to 11 under no one else in double figures then I will go buy more Lotto tickets.

There will be no surprises this year.

It's somehow really obvious - only because NOBODY apart from the following, have their A game to offer so far in 2007.

1. Tiger
2. Justin Rose
3. Charles Howell
4. Vijay Singh
5. Trevor Immelman

MAYBE Vijay will do better than 4th, but if I were anybody reading this and I had the spare cash, I would dump a LOT of money on Immelman and Howell and Rose to place high next week.

That's called putting your hand in the fire! Let's see how my predictions shape up in 9 days from now!!

I think Tiger wins it in a playoff against Vijay. I will say that Phil doesn't crack the top ten.

Hi

Tiger will be unstoppable sadly..the course has been lengthened which will only play into the big cat's hands

bb69

it is impossible to predict these things, but i would not bet against tiger. he is rounding into form and he knows the place as well as, if not better than, anyone playing now. others to keep an eye on are, the former champions, lefty, weir and vijay. ernie and dimarco have had good showings there recently. charley howell is playing well so far this season and i know he would love to win at augusta, i won't say he will or won't win. he might be a long shot. i think the list of contenders is rather short, tiger or tiger. take your pick.

Contenders...

Tiger - Hank Haney gave an interview to the golf channel the other day in which he said that Tiger is more in command of his swing now than he has ever been. He is clearly ready for this event and if he can keep his driver in the shortgrass I dont think anyone will stop him.

Charles Howell III - I think all his hard work during the off season on his short game is really going to pay off this week. Being an Augusta native and seeing what this tournament means to him, it's hard to leave him out of a list of contenders...hopefully the pressure and drive he puts himself through this week isn't too much for him to handle.

Adam Scott - Coming off a big win last week in Houston, I would love to see Scott play well in Augusta. I was going to list him as a sleeper, but if he can bring that accurate driver and the hot flat stick he had in Houston to Augusta I think he may have a real shot!


Sleepers

Chris DiMarco - DiMarco has gotten off to a pretty slow start in 2007, but given his history at Augusta it's kinda hard not to mention his name. Another reason for including him is the putting performance he diplayed at the Tavistock Cup last week, where he seemed to make everything he looked at. I think his solid putting could get him in contention come Sunday.

Vijay Singh - It's hard to list Vijay as a sleeper, but it just seems to fit the way he has been playing this year...He is solid and steady shooting consisitant under par rounds. He seems to almost sneak quietly up leaderboards without anyone really taking notice until he is right there in contention.

Paul Casey - Paul Casey has proven himself as a very good very competitive player and I think being paired with Tiger in the first round this year will be great for his style of play. I love his compact and powerful swing, and coming off a T-6 last year at Augusta I think he could have what it takes.

Sergio Garcia - Despite the little spitting incident at Doral, I will continue to pull for Sergio. I saw some very good things happening on the greens with his putting stroke at Doral, I think if he can keep making fluid confident strokes and releasing his putterhead that along with his solid ball striking and imagination around the golf course could earn him his first major this year.

Contenders.........

No Masters list would be complete with Tiger and to a lesser extent Phil ...

But I'm interested in seeing how Henrik Stenson does this week. He's bettered Tiger in match and field play this year, and he's playing well and not talked about much...


Pretenders.....

Kind of a rude category. I don't think anyone in the field should be ignored, and as a rule the definition would indicate that they do not deserve their status...

So I'll change this to .... who won't win, but who you'd love to see play well...

Gary Player . He opened the season on the Champions tour with two rounds better than his age... I'd love to see him post a couple solid rounds.. but with the length of the course, it would be a hhuge longshot... go Black Knight!

Fred Funk . Too bad he's not 100%. He's consistent, hit fairways, and just generally well liked... Giver Funky!

Craig Stadler (aka the WALRUS!). An emotional player, and emensely skilled, I enjoy the Walrus when he's on..


Finally...

Suprise Picks........

Every Canadian in the world would love to say Mike Weir or Stephen Ames ..so I did, but for me I'm looking at two players that are sleepers...

1. Aaron Baddley . Great putters shine in majors, and no doubt he's good. He's won this season, and I think that he's a good longshot...

2. Brett Quigley . Here's a longshot who's never won a event! But keep in mind, he's competitive, and on leaderboards often, this could be the hurdle of a lifetime....personally I'm pulling for him!

Contenders:

Tiger
Phil - I really don't care how he's playing right now, look at his Masters record
Ernie - He's almost all the way back and has a great Masters record
Vijay - As solid as they come and tends to play well here too.
Howell III - Is this finally the year he breaks out? It looks like it but must get over the Masters hump. Too much pressure on him?
Ogilvy - I wouldn't be surprised if he contends in all the majors this year. The past two years his name usually finds a way toward the top by tournament end.

Pretenders

All the old dudes in the field
But... out of the top ranked players I don't think the following have a great shot.

Garcia - He may/may not contend but in the end his putter will let him down
Stenson - too much hype already. Not enough experience at Augusta
D. Howell - Had a nice 2006 but doesn't look quite like the same player this year. Back problems.
Furyk - Hard putting him here but has had injury problems and the added length really hurts him.

Sleepers

Casey
Olazabal
Angel Cabrera
Immelman
Couples
B. Langer
DiMarco

This is very much a course that requires experience. Olazabal, Langer and Couples may contend in Masters until they are in their 50's. Ok, so they are almost there but these guys always find a way to compete in this tournament. Freddy hasn't done a thing this year and has WD a few times but has made the cut 22 straight times. I have a feeling he's been resting up for this. Bernard 21 out of 24 cuts and played well last week. And Olazabal is almost Mr Masters.

Winner Hands Down Tiger is so tuned in...He is swinging better than he ever has.No player on the tour has the mental capacity of Tiger.If he wants it..Its his....Tiger by 5 Strokes.