With the Masters now only one day away, excitement has reached fever pitch amongst golf fans around the world, as they eagerly await the first major of the season to tee-off.
For many people, the Masters each year represents the start of the golfing season, but already in 2013 we have seen Tiger Woods regain the number one spot by winning three tournaments in America, Rory McIlroy struggle for form with his new clubs and for us Scottish golf fans, a win for Martin Laird in Texas last week.
Having regained the number one spot, Woods is the clear favourite to win The Masters and if he does so he will be pulling on his fifth green jacket, which would move him one behind Jack Nicklaus's record of six wins at Augusta and only three behind Nicklaus'sall-time record of eighteen Major wins.
But what of the other contenders this week? Here I look at five other men who could have to make some room in their wardrobe for a new item come Sunday.
Rory McIlroy (12/1) The Northern Irishman has endured a difficult start to 2013, having lost his spot at the top of the World Rankings and he also struggled to adjust to his new Nike clubs. However, he bounced back last week with a second place finish at the Valero Texas Open and it looks to have been the perfect warm-up for him.
Whilst memories of his meltdown on the course in 2011 as he led going onto the back nine in the final roundwill be fresh there is no doubting McIlroy has all the attributes to succeed at Augusta. He is a beautiful ball-striker and has a lovely touch around the greens. And it must not be forgotten that the previous two occasions he has won Majors, he has been soundly written off beforehand, then gone on to romp to victory. Keep that in mind.
Adam Scott (22/1) Scott is someone who should have picked up a Major Championship long before now. He threw The Open championship away last year when it was in his grasp with four holes to play. Seven other top ten finishes in Major Championships shows that the Australian loves being at the front end as Majors draw to a close.
So can he win the Green Jacket this year? He has finished in the top ten the last two years in The Masters, including tied 2nd in 2011 and is yet to miss a cut this season. He has improved his putting hugely, but due to his mental fragility, I would not go putting the mortgage on him.
Louis Oosthuizen (28/1) The South African was so unlucky to lose out last year at Augusta in the play-off to Bubba Watson and will be keen to go one better this time. The 2010 Open Champion must have thought he had one arm in the green jacket when Watson's drive found the rough in the play-off, but then the American played one of the greatest shots ever seen at Augusta.
However, Oosthuizen will have put all that behind him now and with finding the fairways key at Augusta, Oosthuzien is well worth some of your money. Blessed with a great short game as well, don't be surprised if he adds his name to the South African winners in recent years.
Matt Kuchar (40/1) The American is my top tip this week to win the 2013 Masters and is priced remarkably high at the bookies. Until he bogeyed the 16th in the final round last year, he was right in contention before finishing a very respectable tied third. He has already tasted victory this season in the WGC Matchplay and confirmed to me there how fantastic his touch around the greens is.
He also hasn't missed a cut this season and I have a real sense that it is Kuchar's time to win a Major having featured in the top ten of all four Majors over the last few years.
Nicolas Colsaerts (110/1) The Belgian is my real darkhorse this week as his odds would suggest. Colsaerts is playing in his first Masters tournament so it would be remarkable if he won on Sunday, considering only one debutant (Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979) has done so in 77 years.
However, he is certainly worth a couple of quid of your hard-earned cash. He has spent time in the company of Jack Nicklaus going over how to play the perfect shots on each hole and his huge distance off the tee certainly gives him a chance. And don't go thinking Colsaerts can't handle the big occasion. He was one of Europe's key men in the incredible 2012 Ryder Cup victory and also won the Volvo Matchplay championship that year. Winning a Major is different than showing off blistering Matchplay form, but he could spring a surprise this week.
Whatever happens, it promises to be four days of thrilling golfing competition. Of the 93 players lined up, everyone will step onto the first tee tomorrow thinking they can win. Unfortunately, only one of them will require the services of a tailor come Sunday night.
*All odds supplied by William Hill at the time of writing.
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