NGU Skyliner

Cory Guinn
Sports Editor

Just in case you do not own a television or radio, Tiger Woods will be making his return to gold tomorrow at the 2010 Masters.
His return is kind of a big deal in all realms of the news world. While Wood’s return is sure to be the talk of the town for the next week and a half, I want to focus on players who will be contenders this weekend. Although some of the names in this article may not be well known, an above-average performance in what many consider to be golf’s most prestigious tournament could propel one to immediate fame.
As you keep a close eye on Woods’ play at Augusta, here are few names and thoughts to store in the back of your mind.

Ernie Els
Els is a three-time major champion but has never worn the coveted green jacket. Of all the players in the field, he may have the most momentum heading into Augusta National this weekend. Already with two wins on the PGA Tour so far in 2010, Els is the only player on tour with multiple wins this season and leads all players in scoring average with 68.8. He has finished second in the Masters twice, once in 2000 and again in 2004, and is certainly one of the favorites to win his first Masters trophy.
Padraig Harrington
With three major championship victories since 2007, Harrington has certainly shown a knack for playing his best in the spotlight. His best finish at the Masters is a tie for fifth, which he accomplished in 2002 and 2008. Harrington has been on a hot streak of late, finishing in the top 10 in two of his last three events, and is among the list of favorites to have a strong showing at Augusta.
Retief Goosen
Another player with plenty of momentum heading in  to the Masters, Goosen has the most top10 finishes on tour with five in only seven events. Goosen, winner of two major championships, was runner-up in 2002 and tied for second in 2007. Coming off back-to-back top-five finishes, Goosen is looking to continue his consistent play and claim his first Masters championship.
Camillo Villegas
Villegas is second on tour in scoring average, third on the money list and is tied for fourth in driving distance. One of the most consistent players so far in 2010, Villegas picked up his third PGA Tour victory last month and has finished in the top five three times in five events this season. One of the tour’s emerging young stars, Villegas has a chance to make a name for himself by winning his first major championship.
Steve Stricker
Although he has never won a major, Stricker is the second ranked player in the World Golf Rankings and is playing the best golf of his career at age 43. After winning three events in 2009 and already with one win and four top-10s this season, Stricker has one of the best chances to string together four great rounds and sport the green jacket on Sunday.

Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 10

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.