2010 Masters Preview

Coming into the 2010 Masters everyone has the same question on their minds: will it be a good year for the azaleas at Augusta National? Okay, seriously everyone is wondering whether Tiger Woods will be playing or will he stay on his sabbatical and continue to reflect on the numerous poor decisions he made, which we won't rehash here because this is the sports section, not TMZ. I for one want to see Tiger play. He made some mistakes in his personal life that is for sure, but he still the best golfer on the planet and the Masters is the place for the best.

Let us move past Tiger and take a look at five golfers who I think will have the best chance to don the green jacket come Sunday, April 11.

Geoff Ogilvy: He already has notched a victory on the PGA tour this season, at the SBS Championship at Kapalua. He is currently ranked 12th in the World Golf Rankings. He has one major championship win under his belt, the 2006 U.S. Open. Although his best finish at Augusta is a 15th in 2009, I believe the Australian will be able to put four solid rounds together and contend for his first green jacket.

Phil Mickelson: Lefty has to be considered one of the favorites in any major that he is a part of. He is a two time winner of the Masters already, in 2004 and 2006, and has been in contention several more times. Mickelson is currently ranked third in the World Golf Rankings, but hasn't posted better than an eighth place so far this season. He survived a mini controversy earlier in the year when some players questioned his use of wedges that they claimed did not abide by rules put in place at the beginning of the year. These rules that were put in place addressed grooves on irons that the tour felt allowed players to put too much spin on the ball. Mickelson had a set of 1992 wedges that were exempt from the rules, but other players felt he wasn't following the spirit of the rules. Mickelson has since replaced the wedges in question.

Steve Stricker: Currently number two in the world rankings, Stricker has already notched three top ten finishes in the four tournaments he has played, including a win at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Stricker is coming off a year in which he had four wins. He had his best Masters ever in 2009, finishing sixth. If Tiger decides not to play this year, it may be time for Stricker to take advantage and come away with his first major championship victory.

Angel Cabrera: The defending Masters champion should be in the mix again this year. Cabrera has already won two major championships, but he also has been kind of hit or miss in majors. He has missed the cut three times in his last nine majors. The Argentinian is only ranked 29th in the world, but I think to overlook the defending champion can be dangerous.

Dustin Johnson: This is my dark horse choice to win the 2010 Masters. The 25 year old from Columbia, South Carolina has a victory on the tour this season, the first of his career. Johnson placed a respectable 30th in his first Masters in 2009. He has catapulted himself up to 28th in the world rankings and is my official pick to win the Masters.

Oh and the latest report on the azaleas is that they should be at their peak, and that is certainly a load off all of our minds.