18 First-Time Players to Watch Out for in Masters 2007

The Masters 2007 ushers in 100 players to participate in the yearly tournament. Bill Payne, Chairman of the Masters Tournament and of Augusta National Golf Club (where the Masters takes place annually), officially announced the players, 18 of whom will be playing for their first time.

The 18 players who will be playing at the Masters 2007 are as follows: Bradley Dredge (Wales), Johan Edfors (Sweden), Kenneth Ferrie (England), Julien Guerrier (France), J.J. Henry, Robert Karlsson (Sweden), John Kelly, Troy Matteson, Brett Quigley, Richie Ramsay (Scotland), Jeev Milkha Singh (India), Camilo Villegas (Colombia), Casey Watabu, Brett Wetterich, Dean Wilson, Dave Womack, Hideto Tanihara (Japan) and Yong-Eun Yang (Korea).

Out of the 18 first-timers, Hideto Tanihara got in through special invitation, finishing T5 at the 2006 British Open and winning the JCB Classic Sendai and Sun Chlorella Classic in Japan. Another player to note is Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time winner at the PGA European Tour in 2006 and among other achievements will be the first Indian golfer to play for the Masters. Apparently, he was also the first Indian golfer to qualify for the European Tour as well.

The Masters, one of the four major championships in professional golf, happens every year at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. In 2007 it will be contested from the dates April 2 to 8. Open to about 100 players in total, the Masters Tournament winner is assured membership on the PGA Tour for the next five following seasons as well as invitations to another famed major championship for the next five years.

The current champion of the Masters, Phil Mickelson, shall return to defend his title in 2007. Known to many as "Lefty" for his famous left-handed swing, Phil Mickelson is one of the most famous leading professional golfers. This year should prove to be quite a challenge for him as he goes up against none other than first-ranked Tiger Woods, who he beat out to win the Masters in 2006.

Chairman Bill Payne expects the Masters 2007 to be an extraordinary event, and was quoted as saying that "We think that this year will be very special." Indeed, the list of players are outstanding, each of them champions in their own right and in their own territories. Players to look out for are the usual top ranking Tiger Woods and Mickelson, who will be expected to be battling out for the championship as the days wear on.