Masters Predictions

Warm weather is predicted for the tournament this week but I'm guessing the players will be more concerned with what the wind decides to do.  As in most years, I think Saturday will set the players up to contend.  Go low early and hope your knees don't buckle on Sunday.  Possible rain on Saturday could slow things down and to me, I'm thinking scores will be low.  My prediction?  To get the green jacket this year will require lots of birdies.  11 under wins it.

In short, 3-time Champ Phil Mickelson has the upper hand.  It is simply not necessary to keep the ball in the fairway at Augusta, favoring the long hitters.  He is on record in saying he plans to get after it with the driver, keeping two in his bag for the tournament and nothing more than a 4 iron.  It is Phil's tournament to win as long as the putter holds up.
Others to watch:

Angel Cabrera - the 2009 champ has the distance to compete and the laid-back attitude to come out, guns-a-blazing.
Ernie Els - the South African wants this one bad and time is running out for him to get it done. 
Dustin Johnson - in my opinion, Johnson is going to be great.  And to be great, you have to win major championships.  It just hasn't gone his way yet.  Perhaps best known for his collapse at Pebble and the debacle at Whistling Straits, if he can avoid these mental demons, he should be among the final pairings on Sunday.  Whether he can finish the drill remains to be seen.
Ian Poulter - he certainly threw down the gauntlet this week when he bluntly stated he didn't think Tiger would be in the Top 5.  He's got the game, how will he handle the extra attention?  And who picks out this guy's clothes?
Bubba Watson - a sentimental choice perhaps but Bubba seems to be fine tuning his game.  He has to prove he can do more than bomb the ball, but those bombs will certainly help him on the Augusta fairways.
Lee Westwood - this guy is as talented as anyone and is my choice for #1 contender.  Westwood is due.  Period.  He has the game, he has the focus.  One of these days, he will wear a green jacket.  If I'm Phil, I don't want to be looking over my shoulder and seeing this dude.  He's a superb match play guy and seeing Westwood in the final twosome would make for a wonderful finish.
Tiger Woods - the "IT" factor seems to be gone but I don't think you can make a list like this without having TW on it.  Can he clear away all the junk in his mind enough so that he can navigate the Augusta greens?