Masters Preview: Rory Swings for Grand Slam

At some events on the PGA Tour you get all you ever wanted and more from a victory. The money, the points, the adulation, the attention and so on, but at the Houston Open you get the money and the points -- that's it. There's nothing wrong with the Houston Open per say, but its placement on the calendar in front of the Masters makes it a bit invisible in hindsight.

With that in mind, I tip my hat to whoever won and look forward to Augusta. It's not as if the Masters needed anymore gasoline to light the fire under the average golf fan, but when Tiger Woods announced he'll tee it up this week, that's exactly what it got. To be completely honest, I can't remember a year when I was more excited to watch the Masters, and it's not just Tiger. There's also Phil, who's playing his best golf in a while. Can either win another green jacket? The odds are stacked against them, but who in their right mind would count either out if they happened to be in the mix on Sunday?

The reason the odds are against them, though, is the amount of talent that occupies the top-end of the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy is going for the career grand slam this week, a fitting spot to do so as it was this same spot when he turned a corner in his career after blowing a final-round lead here in 2011. Speaking of turning a corner, Jordan Spieth could do so this week by earning his first major championship. He's got this weekly thing down, now it's time to turn it up a notch and win a major. If that wasn't enough, you've got Bubba Watson, winner of two of the last three Masters. Adam Scott's in the field as well. It wasn't too long ago that Scott turned his own corner here, winning the green jacket in 2013. Some events fade into the memory of golf fans the moment they end. The Masters is different. The Masters lives forever.

This week: Masters Tournament - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

Last Year: Bubba Watson shot a final-round 69 on his way to a three-stroke victory over Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt.

PLAYERS TO CONSIDER

Rory McIlroy

I've had McIlroy pegged for the Masters for quite some time, and nothing has swayed me the last few months. He's won the last two majors and is on a mission. McIlroy is the best player in the world, but his sights are set on something higher, something Tiger used to aspire to. A win this week and he's one step closer to that goal.

Jordan Spieth

McIlroy is the best player in the world, but Spieth might be playing the best now. Not only is Spieth on top of his game, but he's also played well at Augusta, proving the stage is not too big. The concern with Spieth is what a Sunday lead might do to him.

Jimmy Walker

If Spieth is the hottest player going, Walker is right behind him. The knock on Walker in prior years was his ability to play well outside the West Coast/Texas swing, but he played well during all the majors last year, including a top-10 here, so there's reason to think he can sustain his early season momentum this week.

Adam Scott

With all the talk about Rory, Spieth and Bubba this week, Scott is somewhat forgotten, but he shouldn't be. Scott won here in 2013, but in the four years prior and one year since that win, he's ended up in the top 20. Scott usually plays his best when just off the radar.

Jason Day

Speaking of under the radar ... Day was on fire early in the year, but he's since been bumped off the front page by Spieth, Rory, Tiger, etc. Forgetting Day this week would be a mistake, though, as he's played extremely well here in two of his last three visits.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Rickie Fowler

Fowler opened a lot of eyes last year with his play at three of the four majors, but the one place he struggled was Augusta. He made the cut, like he's done during all three trips to Augusta, but he failed to do much on the weekend. Add to that a slow start to this season and you are better off taking a pass on Fowler this week.

Bernhard Langer

It's a credit to Langer that he's even on this list. It is really is -- you have to be good enough to be considered, to make it onto this list. That said, Langer just can't hold up for four rounds on this course anymore. He played well last year, but managed only a T25. Not bad, but not good enough either.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson's fate this week seemed tied to how he played last week. He played well ... early on, but he couldn't sustain the momentum throughout all four rounds. That leads me to believe that he's not quite where he needs to be entering this week.

Dustin Johnson

Johnson is off to a great start this year, but the fact of the matter remains that he's never really fared well at Augusta. He played his way into a top-15 last year, but that's as well as he's done. There are too many great options this week to use DJ in this spot.

Zach Johnson

Johnson is a Masters champ, but outside that victory, he has struggled more often than not at Augusta. All the stars aligned for Johnson during his win in 2007, but since then he has only one top-20 in six starts.

ONE AND DONE GOLFER

Last week: Louis Oosthuizen (MC) - $0; Season - $1,320,661

This week: Rory McIlroy - You got to use him sometime, might as well be here. McIlroy is motivated to win every time out, but his motivation will not be any higher than this week. He wants this one for many reasons.

YAHOO PICKS

Points: 1,958
Rank: 22,585

This Week:

Group A: Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott

Group B: Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar

Group C: Geoff Ogilvy, Charl Schwartzel

SURVIVOR PICK

Last week: Phil Mickelson (T17); Streak - 4

This week: Rory McIlroy - Splitting my one-and-done and survivor picks last week served me well as Oosthuizen missed the cut and Mickelson played the weekend, but I'm back to doubling up with a cant-miss McIlroy this week.