The 2013 Masters Preview

Golf season is in session, and The Masters is proof of that. Augusta National will host a tradition unlike any other this weekend. Just as everyone suspected, Tiger Woods is the favorite to win his 5th green jacket. He has won six of his last twenty starts and looks to be on the verge of dominance once again. In fact, Tiger is such a large favorite at 3 to 1 that he is the only golfer in the field that is better than 10 to 1. While the oddsmakers have slipped one of Tiger's arms into that green jacket already, there are many others that can spoil the weekend for the once-again world #1. Here are my top ten favorites to walk away from Augusta as the 2013 Masters champion.

1. Tiger Woods (3 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 1st

Best Masters Finish: Champion (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005)

2013 Scoring Average: 68.88

2. Adam Scott (25 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 7th

Best Masters Finish: T2 (2011)

2013 Scoring Average: 69.67

3. Lee Westwood (25 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 13th

Best Masters Finish: 2nd (2010)

2013 Scoring Average: 70.67

4. Jim Furyk (60 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 25th

Best Masters Finish: 4th (1998, 2003)

2013 Scoring Average: 70.71

5. Padraig Harrington (75 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 52nd

Best Masters Finish: T5 (2005, 2008)

2013 Scoring Average: 70.53

6. Luke Donald (40 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 4th

Best Masters Finish: T3 (2005)

2013 Scoring Average: 70.58

7. Matt Kuchar (30 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 10th

Best Masters Finish: T3 (2012)

2013 Scoring Average: 69.70

8. Phil Mickleson (15 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 9th

Best Masters Finish: Champion (2004, 2006, 2010)

2013 Scoring Average: 69.50

9. Ian Poulter (50 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 12th

Best Masters Finish: 7th (2012)

2013 Scoring Average: 71.52

10. Graeme McDowell (40 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 17th

Best Masters Finish: T12 (2012)

2013 Scoring Average: 70.50

Prediction - Tiger Woods. There is some math to how I figure out my favorites. I look at who has played well so far this season, who played well in all of last year's majors, and who has historically played well at The Masters. When you add all this up, all signs point to Tiger Woods winning his 5th green jacket and 15th major. Even when he wasn't playing well over the last few years, he still managed top 10 finishes at Augusta. Now he is playing exceptionally well, and anything short of a victory will be a major disappointment for Tiger Woods.