My First Look at Potential Major Contenders

With Torrey Pines playing greater like Winged Foot in the course of america Open (all people for a bloodbath?) and the opposite tours again in movement, perhaps we can begin to identify some of the capacity contenders at this yr's majors.

In case you've forgotten, right here are the four venues for this 12 months's majors:

1. US Masters: Augusta National (Georgia -- pictured above)
2. US Open: Pinehurst No 2 (North Carolina)
3. Open Championship: Royal Liverpool aka Hoylake (England)
4. US PGA: Valhalla Golf Club (Kentucky)

(A quick note: The Open is in the city of Hoylake, England but many players just call the Royal Liverpool golf course "Hoylake.")

Several commentators have already referred to that Tiger has a exquisite report in any respect of these courses and ought to perhaps be considered the fave. But with him no longer playing nicely at Torrey this week, I assume it is too early to determine whether or not he is a fave or now not.

The same is going for Phil, who has been playing nicely however had to withdraw from Torrey with a strained muscle. Until we discover whether this is a nagging damage or no longer -- keep in mind how badly Brandt Snedeker become sidetracked by using a muscle stress to his ribs in 2013? -- I will chorus from labeling him a favourite as properly.

Likewise, I assume Henrik Stenson may additionally have cut his low season too brief. He seems to have cooled down a chunk too much proper now, and it may be weariness and/or that wrist damage. I need to see some Top10s from him.

So who has an early start out of the gate as we head towards the Masters? I searched for a few consistency and, if viable, current wins. I suppose some early opportunities stand out.

• Sergio Garcia: With his win on the ET this week (his first in the Middle East btw) Sergio now has two wins in less than two months. Coupled with his good finishes since September, he's put himself into the conversation for sure. Plus I really like his improved attitude on the course.
• Adam Scott: I don't think I need to explain this choice. The player with three wins since September is also the defending Masters champ.
• Zach Johnson: Like Sergio, he has two recent wins and a half-year of good play. I also like the way he got things back together after a lackluster round at the Humana. Finally, he's proven he can win on a long major course by winning the 2007 Masters... and I'd argue that he's playing much better now than then.
• Webb Simpson: Webb's been playing much better as of late and he's already won twice in the 2014 wraparound season. My one concern with him is that he might play too much leading up to the majors. If he paces himself, he's a potential contender.
• Jordan Spieth: Although he only has one win and NO familiarity with the courses, I'm hard-pressed not to have him as an early favorite. If anybody can break through this year, he can.
• Matt Kuchar: Kuch comes in late on my list simply because he hasn't won since the Memorial last year. But I like all the Top10s -- in the tough conditions of a major, his consistency could make a major his first win in nearly a year.

Yeah, some two-time winners didn't make my early list, like Jimmy Walker and Harris English. That's because they've been pretty much all or nothing -- they win or they don't place particularly well. Thomas Bjorn is in the same boat; I'll be keeping an eye on his progress. And Rory certainly appears to be on the comeback trail but I need to see a little more before I feel good putting him on this list.

I'm sure matters are going to alternate as we near Augusta on the grounds that there are eleven match weeks among Torrey and Augusta. But barring damage, these six gamers appear like quite proper early bets to me.