Nelson Win Got Keegan Bradley Going

As a PGA Tour rookie, Keegan Bradley wasn’t sure if he would play the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship until his caddie convinced him to change his schedule.

His arrival at the TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas had as much pomp and ceremony as a guy without his reserved parking spot could have hope for. Since a car was in his space, he wheeled into the next one available, No. 1.

When Bradley makes his return this week, he will have the same spot. He earned that with his first victory.

But that’s one of the few things in Bradley’s life that haven’t changed. The Nelson victory, in a playoff over Ryan Palmer, spurred Bradley to a dream season.

Brimming with confidence and armed with the security of locking up his playing card for two years, Bradley went from first-time winner to first-time major winner. He won the PGA Championship and was selected PGA Tour Player of the Year.

``The Nelson win was huge,’’ Bradley said recently. ``Especially for it to come at a tournament like that, it was great. I think that’s what got me started. It got my confidence going, and that’s big on the PGA Tour.’’

The Nelson victory began a streak of strong play that Bradley carried through 2011 and into this season.

Bradley finished his rookie season with two wins, four top-10s and 17 top-25s. He earned $3,758,600 and was 20^th in the FedEx Cup standings.

He has become a consistent contender, finishing in the top 25, including three top-10s, in nine of his first 10 starts of 2012. His world ranking has hovered around 20^th.

``My biggest goal to start the year was to be in contention every time I played pretty much,’’ Bradley said. ``I'm having so much more fun when I'm in contention, and I enjoy myself a lot more out there. The fact that I've been in contention means that I'm playing good golf.’’

Bradley was brimming with anonymity at last year’s Nelson despite posting two top-10s in his first 15 starts.

He shot 66 in the first round at the TPC Four Seasons and then after rounds of 71-72 in windy conditions, he entered the final round tied for eighth.

Paired with amateur Jordan Spieth, who attracted the largest gallery contending in his hometown event, Bradley was largely ignored as he steadily climbed the board en route to a 68.

``On the 10th hole, he hit one to about 6 feet and there was a huge ovation, and I hit mine to about 2 inches, and there was two claps, and we're thinking did it go long, is it short?’’ Bradley said afterward. ``It was definitely different, a smaller version of playing with Tiger (Woods) or Phil (Mickelson). … It was actually a little bit relieving and he was a great kid -- couldn't have had a better pairing.’’

After Palmer birdied the 72^nd hole to force a playoff, Bradley sprayed his drive on 18 into the right woods. Palmer, who had launched a perfect drive to set up his 6-foot birdie putt just moments earlier, hit driver instead of playing safe. His ball sailed right, too, settling near a tree.

After marshals moved a concessions cart to clear a narrow flight path, Bradley sent a low hook under the branches. The ball bounced left and came to rest on the green collar, just inches from rolling down the bank and into the pond.

Palmer's shot bounced into the water, leaving Bradley with two putts from 50 feet for the win.

``It was a great shot, probably the shot of my life,’’ Bradley said. ``It just so happened that I pulled it off and was able to win the tournament.’’

By carving out par from the trees, Bradley stamped his ticket to his first major, the PGA Championship.

Even so, he didn’t need a police escort to fight off crowds at Atlanta Athletic Club. He was still somewhat wide-eyed contending with the world’s best.

``The worst one is when you sign an autograph and the kid looks at you and asks you what your name is,’’ Bradley told reporters at the PGA, where he defeated Jason Dufner in a playoff.

Bradley may still be best known as the nephew of LPGA great Pat Bradley, a World Golf Hall of Fame member. He often consults her for advice.

The son of a PGA of America professional from Woodstock, Vt., Bradley used to pick up balls on the driving range. As a pro, he doesn’t clamor for glamour.  

His hobbies include watching sports, fly fishing and ``I can juggle a little bit.’’ He grew up idolizing the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots, and still does.

Bradley seems too busy as a fan to play the star. He said he didn’t feel much different starting 2012 as a two-time winner compared with the year before, when his primary goal was keeping his Tour card.

``Throughout my career I've kind of gone under the radar, and I've always had to kind of prove myself,’’ he said at the start of this season. ``I still think I've got a lot to prove, a lot to play for. Some days I forget what I've done and then I realize that I'm only a second-year player on Tour.’’

He said he sought advice from Mickelson and other veterans about dealing with the distractions accompanying a major victory. 

When Bradley arrives at the Nelson this week, he will find that not much has changed, at least in terms of his parking spot.

``I still need to have that mentality that I had last year of trying to keep my card, trying to be a rookie and have that chip on my shoulder,’’ he said. ``The moment you relax a little bit I think is when you don't play as well. So I'm trying to keep the same attitude I've had since I was five years old, and hopefully that'll keep me going.’’

TPC: Means Tough Playing Conditions at HP Byron Nelson

Predicting the winning score of the HP Byron Nelson Championship is as challenging as forecasting the Texas weather.

But we do know that if conditions are calm, players will go relatively low this week at the TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas. If the wind blows, then scores will rise.

Mild winter temperatures extended the growing season for Bermuda grass, creating lush fairways and uniform rough on the 7,016-yard layout. Ball striking conditions should be optimal.

``I’m putting the number at minus12,’’ said Paul Earnest, director of golf at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa at Las Colinas. ``It’s been a calm spring.’’

The TPC’s redesign after the 2007 event toughened the track considerably. Last year’s winning score of 3-under 277 was the highest of any tournament, including the four majors.

Only two events surrendered fewer strokes to its winner than the Nelson’s 10-under total in 2010, and just six courses played tougher in 2008.

When Plano-based Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design overhauled the TPC, undulations were built in the greens. Those have increased the importance of shot placement and putting.

Wind adds dramatic complications, blowing tee balls and approach shots off track.On the day before last year’s event, crews scrambled to repair greens damaged by an overnight hailstorm. The jagged ice chunks set the tone for a wild week in which the average score on the par-70 layout was 72.35 strokes.

With 25-40 mph winds the final two rounds, a combined 123 over-par rounds were posted with only 17 sub-par rounds. Five players finished under par. Keegan Bradley and Ryan Palmer were tied at 3-under 277 through 72 holes and then Bradley won with a par on the first playoff hole.

It was the second-highest winning score in tournament history. Joe Ogilvie, who tied for third, may have summed things up best after the third round.

``You’ve got trees and rough and greens that are built for not a lot of wind, and undulations,’’ he said. ``It’s like the movie, ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ You’ve got a lot going on here. And it’s an exceedingly difficult golf course. We’re pretty good players but it’s making us look like amateurs.’’

Players will notice a few changes this week:

The par-4 No. 8 should play a little easier with the loss of some big tree limbs right of the landing area in the fairway. The par-4 No. 10 should play more difficult with the maturation of trees in the right rough.

Based on player feedback about the tough tee shot on 18, the right fairway on the closing hole has been extended about five yards, providing a little more wiggle room in the landing area.

The forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday and then sunny skies with southerly winds of about 10 mph on Thursday through Sunday.

``With the mild winter, the course is in really good shape,’’ said Scott Abernathy, director of golf course operations. ``We’ve had an ideal growing season for Bermuda. Based on feedback from the Tour, they think so, too.’’

Settling the Scores

How the TPC Four Seasons has ranked among PGA Tour venues in terms of scoring difficulty since its redesign:

Year    Score      Rank       Winner

2011    3-under    First        Keegan Bradley

2010   10-under   T-3         Jason Day

2009    19-under   T-34      Rory Sabbatini

2008     7-under   T-7         Adam Scott

 

1912: Birth of Golf Legends Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead

The year 1912 saw the sinking of the Titanic, the unwrapping of cellophane, and unprecedented consumption of Oreos.

Woodrow Wilson won a rare four-way presidential election, football added a fourth down, and hockey eliminated the rover position.

Golf was still in its infancy. Although Englishman Harry Vardon had a firm grip on the ancient game, three events occurred that year which would dramatically change the sport:

A cotton farmer’s wife gave birth to John Byron Nelson Jr. in Long Branch, Texas. Samuel Jackson Snead was born on a farm near Hot Springs, Va.; and William Ben Hogan, the son of a blacksmith, was born in Stephenville.

The hardscrabble lives of those three would eventually intersect. From their starts in caddie yards, they came of age in the Depression, carving careers over hard-pan fairways and bumpy roadways.

Their earnings were paid in war bonds. Their contributions were priceless.

The Big Three revolutionized the game, ushering in the modern era with steel shafts, persimmon woods and model swings.

Seemingly strengthened by their hardships, Nelson, Hogan and Snead combined for 198 victories. That’s 39 more wins than the next generation’s dominant threesome of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

The boys of 1912 each left distinct marks, accomplishing feats that may never be matched:

_ Snead won more career titles (82) than any man.

_ Nelson won the most tournaments in a season (18) and consecutively (11).

_ Hogan posted perhaps the greatest comeback, rebounding from a near fatal car accident to win three of four Grand Slam events.

The Big Three’s collective zenith came in 1945 when they won 29 of the 37 PGA Tour events played that year.

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Nelson and Hogan, the gold dust twins, remain linked to DFW fans through the HP Byron Nelson Championship and Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Even Snead figures heavily in our local golf history.

The Big Three won Dallas’ first three tour events. Nelson claimed the 1944 Dallas Open at Lakewood Country Club by 10 shots. Snead won in 1945 at Dallas Country Club. And Hogan won in 1946 at tough Brook Hollow Golf Club, posting the score (4-over 284) he predicted would win.

Hogan, a dues paying member at Colonial Country Club and best friend of founder Marvin Leonard, won a record five Colonial’s including the first two. He is the only player to sweep the Dallas and Fort Worth events in the same year, 1946.

At the entrance of ``Hogan’s Alley’’ stands a gold statue of Bantam Ben, his trademark follow-through overlooking the 18^th green. At the entry of the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas, stands a gold statue of Lord Byron.

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Nelson was 10 when his family moved to 3109 Timberline Drive in Fort Worth. In 1922, they couldn’t have known how important that address would be.

Nelson discovered soon enough. He walked to the end of his street, crossed the road and squeezed his lanky frame through a hole in the fence. He was standing a chip shot away from the fourth green at Glen Garden Golf & Country Club, one of only a handful of courses in the area and the only one with grass greens in the early ‘20s.

It was in Glen Garden’s caddie barn where Nelson learned his life’s calling. The graceful yet powerful swing he honed after the bags were stored would evolve with machine like precision. Nelson’s mechanics were so sound that when the USGA developed a device for testing golf balls and clubs, it was called ``Iron Byron.’’

Nelson befriended a skinny teenager at Glen Garden who was so hungry for work that he’d arrive early, sometimes fighting for his spot in line. Hogan’s tenacity would become legendary.

``I always outworked everybody," Hogan once said. ``Work never bothered me like it bothers some people.’’

The caddies often played ``shag,’’ a game in which they all teed off and then the short shooter would have to shag all the balls.

Nelson used his height and enormous hands to his advantage. As the steel shaft was replacing hickory, he developed what is considered the basis for the modern golf swing.

He relied on the muscles in his hips and legs instead of the wrists. His upright swing involved a full shoulder turn with knees flexed to impact.

``He’d come to Glen Garden to practice between tournaments,’’ said Wendell Waddle, current Glen Garden member who caddied at the club when Nelson was a journeyman pro in his mid 20s. ``We’d go out to No. 1 and I’d shag balls for him. He hit a lot of long irons, using a big cedar tree as his target. I’d stand in front of the tree and catch balls, most on one hop because he was so accurate.’’

Nelson was efficient. He won 54 tournaments, including five majors. A testament to his consistency, he finished in the money 113 straight times.

His streak of 11 victories in 1945 is considered one of the least attainable in all sports. He won 18 times that year, finished second seven times and posted 19 consecutive sub-70 rounds. He set the scoring average standard at 68.33.

From 1944 through 1946, Nelson posted 34 victories and finished second 16 times in 75 starts. He finished outside the top-10 only once.

"Byron Nelson accomplished things on the pro tour that never have been and never will be approached,’’ Arnold Palmer said of his childhood idol.

Nelson never forgot his roots. An honorary member, he visited Glen Garden until his death in 2006, sometimes bringing a group from his church out to play.

More than 40 years after retiring from competitive golf at age 34 to become a full-time rancher, Nelson in 1989 sent Glen Garden members a letter, which hangs on the clubhouse wall.

 “I don’t think it would have been possible for me to develop such a good game of golf,’’ he said of his time there. ``I shall always be grateful to you good people for the friendship and good wishes from all you fine members.” 

As a kid, Hogan struggled with his homemade cross-handed swing. His drives dribbled down the fairway until Ted Longworth, former head pro at Glen Garden, rearranged the youngster’s grip.

In a 1946 story in the Dallas Morning News, Longsworth recalled his conversation with Hogan: ``Ben, if you’re going to keep hogtieing that club, I’m going to get you a job on a cattle ranch.’’

But it was Nelson that Longsworth recruited to replace him as pro at Texarkana when he departed for Portland, Ore.

Nelson and Hogan were 15 when they battled for the title in Glen Garden’s second caddie tournament. Nelson made a 30-foot putt on the ninth hole to force a playoff and then made an 18-foot par putt to win on the 18^th hole.

 

The next year, Nelson received the club’s only junior membership. Hogan matriculated to public courses and then turned pro to put dinner on the table.

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Hogan developed a tough exterior staving off poverty during his youth. He was 9 when his father committed suicide. After his death, the family moved from Dublin to Fort Worth.

Hogan’s success came later than Nelson’s. After turning pro, Hogan fought a hook and financial hardships.

But he was determined to beat adversity. He studied the game and applied his work ethic to his swing construction.

As he searched for the secret in the dirt, Hogan went broke twice. In 1938 he was seriously contemplating quitting when he finished second at the Oakland Open. His final-round 69 earned him $380 and new life.

``I played harder that day than I ever played before or ever will again,’’ he said.

His resolve paid off. Armed with a swing that generated power with uncanny accuracy, Hogan won the first of his 64 titles later that year at the Hershey Four Ball with Vic Ghezzi.

Hogan was the leading money winner on tour from 1940 through 1942. He received his honorable discharge from the Army Air Forces one day before the 1945 Dallas Open at Dallas Country Club.

Able to practice regularly again and to concentrate solely on golf, Hogan set out to end Nelson’s dominance.  Forty of Hogan’s wins, including all nine of his major titles, came after the 1945 season. He caught fire in 1946, Nelson’s final full year.

In contrast to Nelson’s short tenure was Hogan’s longevity. In February 1949, following a season in which he led the tour in earnings, Hogan was almost killed when his Cadillac collided head-on with a Greyhound bus, which was trying to pass a car, 150 miles east of El Paso.

Hogan suffered ``numerous fractures,’’ including a fractured pelvis and broken collar bone. He returned to Fort Worth in a cast from his waist down. In December Hogan was hitting balls and a week later playing at Colonial. In his first two rounds since the accident, he shot 71 and 72. 

In January he played 18 holes for five straight days and then called officials at the Los Angeles Open. ``Count me in,’’ he said. After 72 holes he was tied for the lead with Snead, but then wore down in the 18-hole playoff.

Despite permanent damage in his legs, Hogan carried on. He won the 1950 U.S. Open, the ``Miracle at Merion,’’ in an 18-hole playhoff with George Fazio and Lloyd Mangrum. The next year he captured his first Masters and the U.S. Open. Then in 1953 he had his greatest season with victories at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.

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Snead, who ran track and played football in high school, taught himself to play the bango and trumpet by ear. The youngest of five boys, Snead made his own set of clubs, got some balls from the nearby Homestead Hotel course where he caddied, and belted shots across the chicken farm.

The ultimate feel player, he learned to play golf barefooted. At 19, he was promoted to assistant pro at The Homestead, and then joined the tour in 1936.

``When I swing at a golf ball right, my mind is blank and my body is loose as a goose,’’ Snead said.

Snead was an iron man. ``The Slammer’s’’ sweet swing, a mixture of power and grace, kept him winning over six decades.

In addition to his 82 official PGA Tour victories, Snead claimed almost 60 other titles worldwide. He won seven majors.

His success came almost immediately. Promoted as a ``hillbilly force of nature,’’ he won 12 times in 1937 and ‘38.

He would go on to finish second in the U.S. Open four times, once when he missed a 30-inch putt on the final green of a playoff with Lew Worsham in 1947.

Snead won three Masters, three PGA Championships and one British Open. He led the tour in earnings three times, and played on seven Ryder Cup teams. His final major victory was at the 1954 Masters, where he defeated Hogan in an 18-hole playoff by one stroke.

Snead became the oldest winner _ 52 years, 10 months _ of a PGA Tour event at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open. He finished fourth at the PGA Championship at age 60 in 1972 and was third in 1974.

``Desire is the most important thing in sport," Snead once said. ``Jeez, no one has more than I've got.’’

Adam Scott to play HP Byron Nelson, joining Mickelson, Els and Harrington

The HP Byron Nelson Championship got another strong commitment on Wednesday, landing popular Australian Adam Scott for the May 17-20 event at the TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas.

Scott, the 2008 Nelson champion, tied for eighth in 2006 and missed the cut in 2009. He has skipped the past two Nelsons.

Scott, No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking, joins a marquee group that includes Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar and defending champ Keegan Bradley.

The additions of Harrington and Els have been the biggest surprises. This will be Harrington's first Nelson appearance. The three-time major champion has two top-10s in seven PGA Tour starts this season. Els, also a three-time major winner, claimed the 1995 Nelson by three strokes.

Other recent Nelson commitments include 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis, winner of last week’s Valero Texas Open, and Jason Dufner, runner-up to 2011 Nelson champ Bradley at last year’s PGA Championship. Ticket info: hpbnc.org.

10-Year-Old: 2 Holes-In-One In Same Round

Playing with his parents at Tenison Highlands in Dallas on Monday, Scott Roden made two holes in one in a four-hole span. He's 10.

Scott, who began playing at age 4, aced No.2 with a 9-iron from 95 yards. The celebration had hardly subsided when he holed a 5-iron shot from 126 yards on No. 5.

``It was unbelievable,’’ said his father, Jay Roden. ``What a magical day.’’

The Rodens belong to Lakewood Country Club in Dallas but play regularly on Mondays at Tenison. Scott, a lefthander, gets instruction from Cameron McCormick of Brook Hollow Golf Club and competes in Northern Texas PGA events. He got his first ace on his 8th birthday.

The odds of making two holes-in-one in the same round are about 67 million to 1, according to Golf Digest. Only about 150 two-ace rounds aces have been recorded.

Asked if he planned a quick trip to Las Vegas, Jay said, ``No, but he’s playing in a tournament there in June.’’

U.S. Amateur champs Knost & Kraft faced tough Masters call

Colt Knost and Kelly Kraft won U.S. Amateur championships while playing at SMU. Both earned exemptions to the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.

But to accept invitations to those professional majors required maintaining amateur status. That decision can be trickier than a downhill putt on Augusta National’s slick greens.

Knost forfeited the exemptions to turn pro. Five years later, he is at home in Dallas, still waiting for his shot at the Masters.

Kraft delayed his pro career to live the dream. He has a tee time at 10:24 a.m. on Thursday with defending champion Charl Schwartzel and PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley. They will be in front of four-time defending champion Tiger Woods’ group.

``It’s hard when this week rolls around,’’ Knost said. ``It is the event everyone wants to play so it’s tough to skip. But I have no regrets. I did what was right for me. I made a decision based on my career, not on one event. I certainly don’t fault Kelly for making the decision he did.’’

In the spirit of co-founder Bobby Jones, the most decorated amateur in golf history, the Masters traditionally invites amateur champions.

Kraft is joined by U.S. Amateur runner-up Patrick Cantlay, Randal Lewis, U.S. Mid Amateur winner, U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Corbin Mills, British Amateur champ Bryden Macpherson and Asian Amateur winner Hideki Matsuyama.

Earning the invitation was just the first step; most have issues to resolve.

Macpherson chose to withdraw from the University of Georgia to prepare for the year Masters, an indication that he will turn pro. Cantley, a sophomore at UCLA, has not announced his pro intentions. He finished as low amateur at last year’s U.S. Open and then shot 60 to take the lead at the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship.

Kraft announced early on that he would retain his amateur standing through the Masters and then turn pro. He reasoned that he can still qualify for the U.S. Open and British Open.

"This is the main prize, right here," Kraft told reporters at Augusta. "This is what I stayed amateur for, to play in this thing. It's been great so far."

Knost is the last amateur to turn pro and forgo the Masters. He has played on the PGA and Nationwide Tours, but has not earned another Masters invitation.

A highly decorated college player, Knost won three U.S. Golf Association events in 2007. After claiming the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Amateur, Knost helped the United States win the Walker Cup with his 2-0-2 record. He was the top-ranked amateur in the world.

Although tempted by the Masters, Knost wanted to begin his professional career. He also had endorsement offers which could provide financial stability as he earned his stripes.

Kraft was not highly recruited out of Denton Ryan. He won the Trans-Mississippi Championship and the Texas State Amateur last year but was still relatively under the radar.

He was considering entering PGA Tour Qualifying School before he plowed through the U.S. Amateur field, finishing with a 2-up victory over No. 1 Cantlay. He decided to turn pro after the Masters for the chance to play in PGA Tour events.

``I had accomplished everything in amateur golf,’’ Knost said. ``I was going out as the No. 1 player and had some deals offered that helped my family financially. You never know what’s going to happen. As it turned out, the economy went bad and I was glad I made that choice.’’

Kraft played a couple practice rounds at Augusta in January. He played 18 holes on Sunday and Monday, and then played nine holes and had a practice session with Lakewood Country Club instructor Pat O’Brien on Tuesday. On Wednesday he played in the Par-3 contest with his fiancé, Tia Gannon. He has a DFW gallery of about 20.

``It’s fun to watch somebody go through this for the first time,’’ said O’Brien, who coaches 2007 Masters champ Zach Johnson. ``He looks really comfortable out there. He’s hitting it well but I like his demeanor most of all. He’s having a blast.’’

Kraft may make pro debut in San Antonio

Kraft will probably make his pro debut on a sponsor’s exemption at the Valero Texas Open.

He has spots in the May 17-20 HP Byron Nelson Championship and the May 24-27 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, and exemptions to the Memorial (May 32-June 3) and the AT&T National (June 28-July 1).

The Memorial and the AT&T will not count against the seven sponsor’s exemptions for which he’s eligible.

Jordan Spieth could be headed to Valero Texas Open

Texas freshman Jordan Spieth of Dallas won’t be able to make his third straight appearance at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but he has been offered a sponsor's exemption to the April 19-22 Valero Texas Open.

Spieth is No. 1in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings and No. 3 in the R&A’s World Amateur Ranking. He can’t play the Nelson because it conflicts with NCAA regionals.

Spieth tied for 16th at the 2010 Nelson and tied for 32nd last year. He missed the cut at the 2010 St. Jude’s Classic and the Northern Trust Open in February.

Handicapping the Masters field

Who will win the Masters?

Good question. Here is my handicapping of the entire field. Top 20 are listed in projected order with last three finishes and comment:

Player                  2011      2010   2009       Comment

1. Phil Mickelson   T-27    Win        5            Lefty’s risks are rewarded at Augusta

2. Hunter Mahan     Cut     T-8      T-10        Will DFW have No.1 player?

3. Rory McIlroy      T-15   DNP    T-20        Led after 1st, 2nd, 3rd rounds last year

4. Tiger Woods        T-4      T-4      T-6        No wins since 2005 but 7 top-10s

5. Lee Westwood    T-11      2        43          Only 2 top-10s in 12 Masters

6. Luke Donald         T-4      Cut     T-38       World No. 1 overdue for major win

7. Keegan Bradley     DNP    DNP   DNP      Nine top-25s, 3 top-10s in 2012

8. Jason Day              T-2       DNP   DNP     Two-time major runner-up last year

9. Justin Rose            T-11     DNP     T-20     Best finish T-5 in 2007

10. Matt Kuchar       T-27      T-24   DNP       Top-10s in last three Tour starts

11. Adam Scott         T-2      T-18     Cut        Shot 67 in final 2 rounds to contend last year

12. Charl Schwartzel  Win     T-30    DNP      Birdied final 4 holes to win last year

13. Steve Stricker         T-11  T-30    T-6       Top-25s in all 4 majors in 2011

14. Graeme McDowell  Cut    Cut     T-17       Former U.S. Open champ 2nd at Bay Hill

15. Sergio Garcia           T-45   T-35  T-38      Only 2 top-10s in 13 starts

16. Bo Van Pelt             T-8    DNP    DNP     Finished T-8 in 4 of last 25 Tour starts

17. Bill Haas                 T-42    T-26   DNP      Win, T-4 in last 6 Tour starts

18. Webb Simpson        DNP   DNP  DNP       First Masters after breakout season

19. Martin Kaymer          Cut    Cut    Cut          Ten wins worldwide since 2006

20. Jason Dufner             T-30  DNP  DNP       Top-15 in 4 of 8 starts this year

IN THE HUNT

Aaron Baddeley

Sang-moon Bae

Thomas Bjorn

Jonathan Byrd

Angel Cabrera

Paul Casey

K.J. Choi

Fred Couples

Rickie Fowler

Jim Furyk

Robert Garrigus

Peter Hanson

Charles Howell III

Trevor Immelman

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Zach Johnson

Martin Laird

Francesco Molinari

Kevin Na

Ryan Palmer

Ian Poulter

John Senden

Brandt Snedeker

Henrik Stenson

David Toms

Johnson Wagner

Nick Watney

Mark Wilson

Gary Woodland

WATCH OUT FOR


Kevin Chappell

Ben Crane

Harrison Frazar

Lucas Glover

Padraig Harrington

Ryo Ishikawa

Fredrik Jacobson

Robert Karlsson

Geoff Ogilvy

Sean O'Hair

Louis Oosthuizen

Alvaro Quiros

Chez Reavie

Rory Sabbatini

Vijay Singh

Kyle Stanley

Brendan Steele

Scott Verplank

Y.E. Yang

Bubba Watson

IN THE ROUGH

Patrick Cantlay

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

Stewart Cink

Tim Clark

Darren Clarke

Simon Dyson

Ross Fisher

Anders Hansen

Kyung-Tae Kim

Kelly Kraft

Paul Lawrie

Randal Lewis

Bryden Macpherson

Hideki Matsuyama

Corbin Mills

Jose Maria Olazabal

Mark O'Meara

Craig Stadler

Scott Stallings

Mike Weir

Ian Woosnam

CINDERELLA STORY

Ben Crenshaw

Bernhard Langer

Sandy Lyle

Larry Mize

Tom Watson


Photos: Masters.com