A poll among so 50 media reporting on the Masters have singled out Phil Mickelson as the favourite to win the 2011 Masters.
The Augusta Chronicle conducted the poll with Mickelson winning 11 votes and Luke Donald and Nick Watney eight apiece.
Next best was four-time Augusta winner Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood with four each.
Among some other picks to be likely green jacket contenders included the usual suspects in Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Geoff Ogilvy and even Rickie Fowler who’s making his debut.
One scribe, David Westin of the Augusta Chronice, picked USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love 111 saying: “Davis is 46 just as Jack was in ’86”.
With thanks to the Augusta Chronicle here’s the what the those ‘in the know’ picked.
AMERICAN PRESS
David Westin, Augusta Chronicle. Davis Love III / Rickie Fowler / Jason Day / Love is 46 just like Jack in 1986
Scott Michaux, Augusta Chronicle. Luke Donald / Phil Mickelson / Bubba Watson / That said, I still believe Tiger can win this week.
Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press. Nick Watney / Lee Westwood / Tiger Woods / It will be a winner Dan Jenkins has never heard of.
Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post. Phil Mickelson / Bubba Watson / Matt Kuchar / Magnolia Lane mojo.
Michael Whitmer, Boston Globe. Anthony Kim / Phil Mickelson / Miguel Angel Jimenez / Likes course, plays it well, no distracting casinos nearby.
Hank Gola, New York Daily News. Phil Mickelson / Luke Donald / Fred Couples / How do you pick against Phil after Houston?
Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lee Westwood / Phil Mickelson / Bubba Watson / He’ll be great as long as he stays off planes this week.
Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune. Luke Donald / Phil Mickelson / Justin Rose / Euro with money short game; what else do you need?
Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer. Phil Mickelson / Anthony Kim / Davis Love III / Another Mickelson moment at Magnolia Lane.
Ron Green Sr., Charlotte Observer. Tiger Woods / Phil Mickelson / Rory McIlroy / I used to pick Greg Norman every year.
Steve Politi, Newark Star-Ledger. Bubba Watson / Geoff Ogilvy / Brandt Snedeker / Bet he won’t be the first guy named Bubba with a green jacket.
Steve DiMeglio, USA Today. Tiger Woods / Vijay Singh / Rory Sabbatini / TW wins because he’s watching his new App over and over.
Bob Harig, ESPN.com. Nick Watney / Luke Donald / Tiger Woods / In Nick I trust.
Ron Sirak, Golf World. Ernie Els / Lee Westwood / Davis Love III / With no clear favorite, Ernie gets major he wants most.
Gary Van Sickle, Sports Illustrated. Martin Kaymer / Graeme McDowell / Ian Poulter / National Lampoon’s “European Vacation” meets Ryder Cup.
Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel. Phil Mickelson / Nick Watney / Adam Scott / Tough to ignore guy with hot hand playing his favourite course.
Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union. Justin Rose / Steve Marino / Jeff Overton / Rose is coming in consistently hot yet under the radar.
Rex Hoggard, GolfChannel.com. Lee Westwood / Phil Mickelson / Paul Casey / Because the world rankings can’t be wrong.
Barry Svurluga, Washington Post. Nick Watney / Luke Donald / K.J. Choi / One of these young guys has to win someday, right?
Steve Elling, CBSSports.com. Nick Watney / Phil Mickelson / K.J. Choi / Steadiest guy on tour this year; it’s Watney’s time.
Gary D’Amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Phil Mickelson / Dustin Johnson / Steve Stricker / Dustin was my pick until Phil’s news conference; he’s ready.
Jeff Rude, Golfweek. Phil Mickelson / Nick Watney / Hunter Mahan / With Houston win, 2011 finally has favuorite other than pimento cheese.
Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News. Lee Westwood / Phil Mickelson / Nick Watney / Maybe he’s just finally due.
Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Padraig Harrington / Hunter Mahan / Gary Woodland / Proven major champ has been hanging around leader boards lately.
Bill Nichols, Dallas Morning News. Tiger Woods / Lee Westwood / Anthony Kim / At Augusta Tiger can rely on feel instead of mechanics.
John Paul Newport, Wall Street Journal. Phil Mickelson / Nick Watney / Bubba Watson / If Bubba starts tearing up, watch out; he’s in the zone.
Mark Whicker, Orange County Register. Nick Watney / Phil Mickelson / Sergio Garcia / One Bulldog (Fresno) who can make a 10-footer.
Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle. Lee Westwood / Tiger Woods / Nick Watney / Westwood is due to win a major.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
John Hopkins, The Times (London). Phil Mickelson / Lee Westwood / Tiger Woods / Healthier and happier now; top of his game, too.
Derek Lawrenson, Daily Mail UK. Bubba Watson / Luke Donald / Aaron Baddeley / Lefty wins Masters, just not the one you think.
James Corrigan, The Independent. Luke Donald / Phil Mickelson / Y.E. Yang / Short hitter’s short game will short his rivals.
Neil Squires, Daily Express. Paul Casey / Phil Mickelson / Miguel Angel Jimenez / Casey is overdue for something big and sets up well here.
Bernie McGuire, Irish Star/Scottish Herald/www.golfbytourmiss.com. Martin Kaymer / Geoff Ogilvy / Robert Karlsson / A major winner now mature to step up to the Masters winning plate.
Mark Garrod, PA Sport (UK). Phil Mickelson / Luke Donald / Vijay Singh / Comes down to duel between the two best short-game players.
Andy Farrell, Independent on Sunday. Luke Donald / Phil Mickelson / Nick Watney / Short game is the new long game at Augusta.
Mark Lamport-Stokes, Reuters. Nick Watney / Phil Mickelson / Bubba Watson / Favorites have form and short games; Bubba long and creative.
Philip Reid, Irish Times. Nick Watney / Rory McIlroy / Gary Woodland / Time for changing of the guard and Watney has the tools.
John Huggan, New Zealand Golf Magazine. Geoff Ogilvy / Dustin Johnson / Francesco Molinari / Aussies way overdue on MacKenzie masterpiece.
Shane O’Donoghue, CNN. Rory McIlroy / Hunter Mahan / Bo Van Pelt / Wide-open Masters, but time for young superstar to emerge.
Dave Perkins, Toronto Star. Luke Donald / Either Molinari / Tiger Woods / Who but Donald has been working with rugby specialist?
Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun. Phil Mickelson / Dustin Johnson / Tiger Woods / Phil can play this course in his sleep; he’s not sleeping now.
Ken Fidlin, Toronto Sun. Lee Westwood / Dustin Johnson / Bubba Watson / Made mistakes, learned lessons, now ready to win.
Neil McLeman, Daily Mirror (UK). Phil Mickelson / Dustin Johnson / Anthony Kim / The wait for the next European winner will continue.
Paul Mahoney, Golf Magazine, Europe. Luke Donald / Bubba Watson / Charl Schwartzel / Proved to himself at match play that he can plod to victory.
Isabel Trillo, Unidad Editorial (Spain). Lee Westwood / Luke Donald / Tiger Woods / After plane incident, he’s calm in life to attack Augusta with fire.
Massimo Lopes Pegna, La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tiger Woods / Martin Kaymer / Francesco Molinari / Tiger will be tiger again; Kaymer will be German lion.
David Facey, The Sun (London). Nick Watney / Ian Poulter / Retief Goosen / Most open Masters, sadly Europeans may have to accept second best.
