ESPN.com
Wednesday, April 4
The front nine
| 1. Tiger Woods |
| Age: 25; World Ranking: 1 |
| Best Masters finish: 1 (1997); Top-10s: 3 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: 5; 1999: T18; 1998: T8; 1997: 1; 1996: Cut |
| The skinny: While he may not win, it's impossible to pick against him. He's won the past three majors, owns a career Grand Slam and won his last two starts coming into the tournament. As he showed last year, the pressure not only doesn't get to him, he thrives on it. If he gets too aggressive or starts missing putts, he could lose patience quickly. |
| 2. Vijay Singh |
| Age: 38; World Ranking: 5 |
| Best Masters finish: 1 (2000); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: 1; 1999: T24; 1998: Cut; 1997: T17; 1996: T39 |
| The skinny: Hasn't finished worse than fourth in six events since Pebble Beach, and brings confidence and new love to Augusta. Putting much better this year. |
| 3. Jose Maria Olazabal |
| Age: 35; World Ranking: 36 |
| Best Masters finish: 1 (1994, 1999); Top-10s: 4 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: Cut; 1999: 1; 1998: T12; 1997: T12; 1996: DNP |
| The skinny: Nine top-15 finishes at Augusta since 1989, including two wins. Wild drives don't hurt him. Playing on PGA Tour this year, so travel not an issue. |
| 4. Tom Lehman |
| Age: 41; World Ranking: 12 |
| Best Masters finish: 2 (1994); Top-10s: 3 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: 6; 1999: T31; 1998: Cut; 1997: T12; 1996: T18 |
| The skinny: Has the right mindset at majors, and has contended three times since 1994. Been in top-13 in five of nine starts this year. |
| 5. Davis Love III |
| Age: 36; World Ranking: 7 |
| Best Masters finish: 2 (1995, 1999); Top-10s: 5 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T7; 1999: 2; 1998: T33; 1997: T7; 1996: T7 |
| The skinny: Been in top-10 five of past six years, including two close calls. Best player on West Coast swing this year and a Georgia resident loved by Augusta fans. |
| 6. Ernie Els |
| Age: 31; World Ranking: 3 |
| Best Masters finish: 2 (2000); Top-10s: 2 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: 2; 1999: T27; 1998: T16; 1997: T17; 1996: T12 |
| The skinny: Plays majors well, judging by three seconds last year. Never put together four strong rounds at Augusta until last year, but arrives playing poorly the past month. |
| 7. Brad Faxon |
| Age: 39; World Ranking: 38 |
| Best Masters finish: T9 (1993); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: DNP; 1999: T24; 1998: T26; 1997: Cut; 1996: T25 |
| The skinny: The best putter in the game can work magic on Augusta's greens, and rest of his game has been elevated this year to give him birdie opportunities. |
| 8. Phil Mickelson |
| Age: 30; World Ranking: 2 |
| Best Masters finish: 3 (1996); Top-10s: 4 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T7; 1999: T6; 1998: T12; 1997: Cut; 1996: 3 |
| The skinny: Always a contender, but always stumbles at some point at Augusta. If he's going to win a major, Augusta seems best opportunity with his distance and superb short game. |
| 9. Greg Norman |
| Age: 46; World Ranking: 41 |
| Best Masters finish: 2 (1986, 1987, 1996); Top-10s: 9 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T11; 1999: 3; 1998: Cut; 1997: Cut; 1996: 2 |
| The skinny: Never count out Norman at Augusta. Pointed toward this year for a long time, now that he's 46 -- the same age as Nicklaus during miracle run in 1986. |
| 10. Fred Couples |
| Age: 41; World Ranking: 52 |
| Best Masters finish: 1 (1992); Top-10s: 8 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T11; 1999: T22; 1998: T2; 1997: T7; 1996: T15 |
| The skinny: Has never missed a cut in 16 Masters, finishing top-10 in half of those. Can he rise to occassion for four good rounds is big question. |
| 11. Mark Calcavecchia |
| Age: 40; World Ranking: 21 |
| Best Masters finish: 2 (1988); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: DNP; 1999: Cut; 1998: T16; 1997: T17; 1996: T15 |
| The skinny: The Claw is working wonders on greens this year, but aggressive style could lead to big numbers at Augusta. |
| 12. Jim Furyk |
| Age: 30; World Ranking: 14 |
| Best Masters finish: 4 (1998); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T14; 1999: T14; 1998: 4; 1997: T29; 1996: T29 |
| The skinny: Usually plays well in majors, but hasn't had a serious breakthrough. |
| 13. Nick Price |
| Age: 44; World Ranking: 13 |
| Best Masters finish: 5 (1986); Top-10s: 3 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T11; 1999: T6; 1998: Cut; 1997: T24; 1996: T18 |
| The skinny: Never count out a veteran like Price, although he's never been serious contender at Augusta. |
| 14. Jesper Parnevik |
| Age: 36; World Ranking: 11 |
| Best Masters finish: T21 (1997); Top-10s: 0 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T40; 1999: Cut; 1998: T31; 1997: T21; 1996: DNP |
| The skinny: Established as a winner on PGA Tour, so now he needs a major. |
| 15. Stewart Cink |
| Age: 27; World Ranking: 20 |
| Best Masters finish: T23 (1998); Top-10s: 0 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T28; 1999: T27; 1998: T23; 1997: Cut; 1996: DNP |
| The skinny: Georgia native had breakout year in 2000, so it's time for the next step. |
| 16. David Toms |
| Age: 34; World Ranking: 22 |
| Best Masters finish: T6 (1998); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T49; 1999: Cut; 1998: T6; 1997: DNP; 1996: DNP |
| The skinny: Had unforgettable Sunday in 1998 with final-round 64 and back-nine 29. |
| 17. Hal Sutton |
| Age: 42; World Ranking: 9 |
| Best Masters finish: 10 (2000); Top-10s: 1 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: 10; 1999: Cut; 1998: DNP; 1997: DNP; 1996: Cut |
| The skinny: A true scrapper, but has missed cut in 11 of 14 tries at Augusta. |
| 18. David Duval |
| Age: 29; World Ranking: 8 |
| Best Masters finish: T2 (1998); Top-10s: 3 |
| Last five Masters: 2000: T3; 1999: T6; 1998: T2; 1997: Cut; 1996: T18 |
| The skinny: Serious contender for three years running, but doesn't have game, body or head screwed on straight this year. |
Greg Robertson is ESPN.com's golf editor.
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Some of the PGA's best look to fend off Tiger and contend for the green jacket.
Tiger Woods doesn't quite have his A-game, but is confident about taming Augusta.