THE ’85 MASTERS / THE CONTENDERS

Los Angeles Times Jack Nicklaus has wonthe Masters five times. SEVERIANO BALLESTEROS--Considered by many of his fellow golfers to be the world’s finest player, he remained home in Spain and didn’t begin playing this year until the seventh tournament, the Doral, where he missed the cut. Three weeks later, he won at New Orleans. A two-time winner at Augusta, he was the youngest champion ever in 1980 at 23 and won again in 1983.

BEN CRENSHAW--As a courtesy to the defending champion, he has to be considered. But not for long. Although he finished second two years ago and won last year, his game has hit bottom. In nine tournaments, he has missed the cut in five, been disqualified once and finished only three. He ranks 160th in scoring, 150th in hitting greens in regulation, 160th in driving distance and 134th in putting.

TOM KITE--Even though the Masters favors long hitters, Kite has romanced the course with his accuracy and putting. He has the best record here among players who have never won. In the last 10 Masters, he has finished in the top 10 nine times. He hasn’t finished worse than sixth since 1979. He tied with Crenshaw, his former college teammate, for second in 1983 and was leading entering the final round last year, then shot a 75.

JACK NICKLAUS--At 45, he still attacks the course. He leads the tour in greens hit in regulation, but his putting has deserted him. His best finish this year was a tie for third in the Doral. He has won the Masters five times, the last one in 1975, and has finished second four times.

MARK O’MEARA--Last year, he finished second five times and won once, placing second on the money list. He proved that wasn’t a fluke by winning consecutive tournaments this year, the Crosby and the Hawaiian Open. But he missed the cut two of the next three weeks. His only previous Masters was in 1980, when he qualified as an amateur and failed to make the cut.

CALVIN PEETE--He has had some good rounds at the Masters and some truly terrible ones, such as an 87 in 1983. This course doesn’t suit his finesse game, but he has improved his distance off the tee this year by jogging and lifting weights, and he says he no longer is at a significant disadvantage against the longer hitters. He has won two tournaments this year, including the prestigious Tournament Players Championship two weeks ago, and is the second-leading money winner.

CRAIG STADLER--The 1982 champion, he is the only golfer this year averaging below 70 strokes a round. He has averaged 69.92. Although he hasn’t won this year, he has finished second three times. That includes last weekend at Greensboro, where he was one stroke behind Joey Sindelar.

CURTIS STRANGE--Only 11 tournaments into this year, he has already earned more money than in any other year. A winner at Las Vegas and in the Honda tournament, he is the leading money winner with $332,344. He had his best previous year in 1984 with $276,773. He may be distracted this week because his wife is due to give birth to their second child Saturday. His best finish at the Masters was in 1982, when he finished seventh.

LANNY WADKINS--He started fast this year, winning two of the first three tournaments. He was 27 under par in winning the Bob Hope, beating Stadler in a playoff, and 20 under par in winning the Los Angeles Open at Riviera by seven strokes. But he hasn’t played well since returning from a four-week vacation, missing the cut two weeks ago at the TPC. In 11 previous Masters, he hasn’t finished higher than seventh.

TOM WATSON--Since 1977, he has won the Masters twice, finished second three times and finished fourth, fifth and 12th. He has been erratic this year, but he had an even slower start last year and finished as Player of the Year and the leading money winner for the sixth time. He was second last year to Crenshaw in the Masters and to Ballesteros in the British Open.