THE CONTENDERS | Masters

A look at the top 10 contenders for the 70th Masters:
Tiger Woods
Age: 30Best Masters finish: Won in 1997, 2001, '02 and '05.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Won Buick Invitational and Ford Championship at Doral.Comment: Always the favorite at Augusta National, Tiger faces uncertainty this time around as his father Earl lies gravely ill in California. So Woods' amazing focus and concentration will be severely tested.
Phil Mickelson
Age: 35Best Masters finish: Won in 2004.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Won BellSouth Classic Sunday.Comment: Amazing 13-shot win last week should boost Lefty's confidence after so-so start to the year. Wayward driver (86th on tour in driving accuracy) is big concern.
Ernie Els
Age: 36Best Masters finish: Second in 2000 and '04.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Tied for seventh at Ford Championship at Doral.Comment: Big Easy has yet to win this year and has been slowed following knee surgery last fall. Has game to win at Augusta but needs good start.
Retief Goosen
Age: 37Best Masters finish: Second in 2002.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Second at The Players Championship.Comment: With four consecutive top-15 finishes at Augusta National (including tie for third last year), Goosen will be somewhere on the board. If two-time U.S. Open champ's putter gets hot, look out.
Vijay Singh
Age: 43Best Masters finish: Won in 2000.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Lost in playoff at Mercedes Championships.Comment: Almost always a factor at The Masters (five top-7 finishes in last six years), hard-working Singh is lurking off the pace. Strong finisher (68.7 final-round stroke average in seven events this year) but driving (138th on tour in driving accuracy) has been erratic.
Mike Weir
Age: 35Best Masters finish: Won in 2003.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Tied for third at AT & amp;T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.Comment: Little Big Man may have real problem with Augusta's added length as there's no hiding his 181st ranking in driving distance (275.3 yards)
Chris DiMarco
Age: 37Best Masters finish: Lost in playoff last year.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Tied for ninth at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.Comment: Maybe the best competitor on PGA Tour, gritty DiMarco will be hard-pressed to match last year as driving (142nd in driving distance, 120th in driving accuracy) has been real problem this year.
Jose Maria Olazabal
Age: 40Best Masters finish: Won in 1994 and '99.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Lost in playoff at Buick Invitational.Comment: No matter how much length is added, Olazabal (12 top-15 finishes in last 16 Masters) knows how to play Augusta National. Hasn't won on PGA Tour in more than four years.
David Toms
Age: 39Best Masters finish: Tied for sixth in 1998.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Won Sony Open in Hawaii.Comment: Driven, talented player just hasn't fared well at Augusta National (his 64 in final round in '98 is his only career Masters round in the 60s). After missing cut last two years, maybe this is his time.
Charles Howell III
Age: 26Best Masters finish: Tied for 13th last year.Best 2006 PGA Tour finish: Tied for 33rd at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships.Comment: Augusta native would be sentimental choice of fans. Has needed length to make him good long shot pick.
Scripps Howard News Service