Golfer’s Guide’s Look at this week’s Masters favorite storylines and contenders

The Masters, golf’s first major of the year every year, is typically termed a “Tradition Unlike Any Other.” This year’s edition of golf greatest event this side of the Atlantic would be better termed as the “Major With More Questions Than Any Other.”

Can Phil Mickelson win a Masters title the week following a PGA Tour victory for the second time in his career? Is Tiger Woods anywhere near capable of breaking a more than two-year drought without a major victory? Are the game’s “young guns” ready to pull the weapon from the holster and win a major (this side of Martin Kaymer, of course)? Who is the next player no one sees coming in a pursuit for a Green Jacket?

Most majors come with questions, but not many in recent memory carry the type of significant and intriguing ones that accompanying the first of 2011; a fact that only adds intrigue to The Masters, an event that typically needs no more than the very course it is played upon.

Not only does Mickelson come into Augusta as the defending champion, he enters the Masters fresh off a victory last week at the Shell Houston Open. It’s the second time in his career that Mickelson has come to Augusta fresh off a victory, and a chance to make it 2-for-2 in that opportunity. It’s also an opportunity to continue a rise in the world rankings, where Lefty now sits at No. 3 following last weekend’s triumph.

If Lefty’s 63-65 weekend finish at the Shell is any indication, Mickelson appears ready to defend what was his third Masters championship last year. True, it’s been an inconsistent year for Phil, but few this side of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have found the hollowed grounds of Augusta National more to his liking than Mickelson.

Speaking of Tiger, it’s yet another major championship and yet another opportunity for the game’s former greatest player to return to glory. Tiger hasn’t won a major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open, and despite a fourth-place finish at last year’s Masters (and U.S. Open), Woods really hasn’t contended in a major since the 2009 PGA Championship.

Still recovering from the misery of a public divorce in 2009, Woods has shown brief moments of brilliance this year wrapped around largely mediocure golf. To win this week, Tiger had better find his putting stroke and, at least 75 percent of the time, the generous fairways at Augusta National. Fact is, Woods is quite ready to win a major yet, leaving, for yet another major, a wide open field.

That said, here is what we say are the possibilities of this week at Augusta National:

THE FAVORITES

Left is Right – Mickelson is the defending champion and his play at the Shell Houston Open over the weekend was awesome. Phil’s game has been off and on, but Augusta National has belonged to him lately.

I’m No. 1 – Granted, Martin Kaymer hasn’t played his best golf since being elevated to the penthouse of the World Golf Rankings, but this guy has game. As indicated by his triumph at last year’s PGA

Championship at Whistling Straits, the German plays his best on the toughest courses, and Augusta certainly ranks as one of those.

Ryder Me to A Green Jacket – Ryder Cup hero Grhame McDowell is still seeking his U.S. Open championship form of last year, but given this guy’s talent and knack for pulling off the most impressive shots under pressure, putting a Green Jack over top a “too tight for good” cardigan isn’t out of the realm of likelihood.

THE PARTY CRASHERS

Can You Kuchar Me – Bottom line, you have to be able to putt at Augusta National and over the past year no one has putted like this cat Matt. Kuchar’s steady game, reliable putter and easy-going demeanor will play well in The Masters; as we expect him to as well.

Look Here, Bubba – What Bubba Watson does to a golf ball with his driver should be illegal. What he has the capability to do to Augusta National if his game is on might be downright illegal. Given his length, and go for it mentality, if Watson can make some putts, it could very well be a Bulldog Sunday for this Georgia product.

Lee-d Me to My First – For a brief period of time, Lee Westwood was the world’s best player. For quite some time now, the Englishmen has been the best player without a major title. Westwood has had his chances around Augusta National, and if he can make some putts this week, he very well may end up being Sunday’s man to beat.

Eat My Dustin – By no means is it a stretch to say South Carolina native Dustin Johnson is the most athletic golfer on the PGA Tour. He is also one of the circuit’s best ball strikers as he demonstrated at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship last year. Whether Dustin is ready to put last year’s final round disappointments in those two event behind him and win a Green Jacket remains to be seen. What can’t be disputed is he has more than enough game to do it.

Forget Me Not

Out of Woods I come – Remember the days when it was Tiger vs. the field in just about every major. Those days don’t seem so close no more. That said, these are the grounds where Tiger has four times won a Green Jacket. You might take the field nowadays, but that doesn’t mean Woods can’t summon the game to cruise right past it.

Ian I a Good Dresser? — Deep in my recesses, I want to see what a Green Jacket would look like on Ian Poulter considering his interesting wardrobe choices. During a point of clarity, however, I strongly doubt this Euro star has the gumption to pull through on a Sunday in contention.

Ready to Make a Sergio – Following a dismal 2010, Sergio Garcia seems to have his game, and his attitude, back. The Spaniard has shown flashes of brilliance at Augusta National and one has to think there is too much talent in Garcia not to eventually break through in a major. Whether it is this week or not, well, that remains to be seen.

And the winner is….. I’ve grown to really like Bubba Watson. I’ve learned never to doubt Tiger Woods. So, with that said, I am going with Matt Kuchar.