Golf

Contenders/Sleepers

Tiger Woods leads list of contenders. Retief Goosen's recent finishes make him a strong sleeper.

By Bob Harig
Published April 5, 2007

Tiger Woods

He has won two of the three stroke-play events he has played this year and the past two majors. A victory would be his fifth Masters, putting him one behind Jack Nicklaus and within five of the Golden Bear's all-time record of 18.

Phil Mickelson

He has finished in the top 10 every year since 1999 and has won two of the past three Masters. He has employed his usual premajor routine and is said to be tearing up the course. He had a hole-in-one at No. 16 Sunday.

Geoff Ogilvy

The reigning U.S. Open champion needed help from Mickelson at Winged Foot, but he's no fluke. He's lacking experience at Augusta; this is just his second Masters. He tied for 16th last year.

Vijay Singh

The only player other than Woods to win more than once this year, Singh has a solid record at Augusta, with top 10s each of the past five years. He won in 2000.

Ernie Els

It's puzzling the Big Easy hasn't won this tournament, given his skills to play the course. He hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2004. He does have six top 10s at Augusta, including a runnerup to Phil Mickelson in 2004.

Davis Love

Nobody's talking about Love, who has six top-10 finishes at the Masters. Perhaps he will be this year's Fred Couples, who contended last year.

Retief Goosen

The two-time U.S. Open champion has been struggling recently, but has a strong record at Augusta. He has been in the top 15 each of the past five years.

Mike Weir

The only guy not named Tiger or Phil to win since 2000, the Canadian has struggled this year, failing to finish among the top 20 in any PGA Tour event.

[Last modified April 5, 2007, 00:08:13]