30 PLAYERS TO WATCH

PAUL AZINGER

- Masters played: 10.

- Best finish: 14 (1989).

- Last year: T28.

- Comment: Game comes back in bits and pieces. Still hasn’t won since being found to have cancer shortly after winning PGA Championship in 1993. Seems to have trouble keeping the fire burning for four rounds. Augusta is a bad place to be tentative.

*

MARK CALCAVECCHIA

- Masters played: 11.

- Best finish: 2 (1988).

- Last year: T17.

- Comment: Hard work with Butch Harmon has paid off. Is hitting crisp irons (11th in greens hit). If he can raise putting slightly (50th) could contend.

*

FRED COUPLES

- Masters played: 13.

- Best finish: 1 (1992).

- Last year: T7.

- Comment: Still one of the best when his back is sound. Swamped by personal problems last year, including death of his father. Time is running out for another major championship, but it’s not gone yet.

*

JOHN DALY

- Masters played: 5.

- Best finish: 3 (1993).

- Last year: Did not play.

- Comment: Missed last year because of alcohol rehab. Playing most consistent golf of career. Perfect for Augusta--long and great touch around the greens (No. 1 in putting).

*

DAVID DUVAL

- Masters played: 2.

- Best finish: 18 (1996).

- Last year: Missed cut.

- Comment: Has won four of his last 10 events. Comes into Augusta ranked 19th in greens hit and second in putting, the two most important statistical categories at Augusta. Could be ready for a major.

*

STEVE ELKINGTON

- Masters played: 7.

- Best finish: 3 (1993).

- Last year: T12.

- Comment: Not likely to be sharp. Pulled out of Players Championship after surgery to remove polyps from sinuses. Has the iron play to win at Augusta but perhaps not the putting.

*

ERNIE ELS

- Masters played: 4.

- Best finish: T8 (1994).

- Last year: T17.

- Comment: Has two firsts, two seconds and two thirds worldwide this year. Has power and patience to play this course. Loves major championships, finishing in the top 10 nine times in 22 starts. Also loves rivalry with Woods. Wants this one and might get it.

*

NICK FALDO

- Masters played: 14.

- Best finish: 1 (1989, ‘90, ‘96).

- Last year: Missed cut.

- Comment: Hasn’t putted well (134th) since he missed several short ones in the last round of the 1996 British Open. Still the most determined grinder in golf. A threat if he gets to the weekend in contention.

*

JIM FURYK

- Masters played: 2.

- Best finish: 28 (1997).

- Last year: 28.

- Comment: Shows more maturity each time out. Putts with the best of them. Strong all-around game: 25th in driving accuracy, 38th in greens hit, 25th in putting.

*

SCOTT HOCH

- Masters played: 12.

- Best finish: 2 (1989).

- Last year: 38.

- Comment: Most under-appreciated game in golf. Is 13th in driving accuracy, 33rd in greens hit and 23rd in putting. One of best from 100 yards in, which is where the Masters is won. Lost in playoff to Faldo in 1989 when he missed a 30-inch putt. Augusta owes him one.

*

LEE JANZEN

- Masters played: 6.

- Best finish: 12 (1995, ‘96).

- Last year: T26.

- Comment: Hits a lot of greens (13th) and makes a lot of putts (14th). Will he bounce back after final-round collapse in Players Championship?

*

BERNHARD LANGER

- Masters played: 15.

- Best finish: 1 (1985, ‘93).

- Last year: T7.

- Comment: Has the imagination around the greens that characterizes the European game and explains why Europeans do so well at Augusta. Might have one more run left in him.

*

TOM LEHMAN

- Masters played: 5.

- Best finish: 2 (1994).

- Last year: T12.

- Comment: Hasn’t won on PGA Tour since taking British Open and Tour Championship in 1996. Closed with very strong 68 at Players Championship to get share of second place. Hits a ton of greens (4th), but needs good week with the putter (89th).

*

JUSTIN LEONARD

- Masters played: 3.

- Best finish: 7 (1997).

- Last year: T7.

- Comment: Since June has come back from five strokes back in the final round to win the Kemper Open, British Open and Players Championship. Can get very hot with the putter and has matured into a real pressure player.

*

DAVIS LOVE III

- Masters played: 8.

- Best finish: 2 (1995).

- Last year: T7.

- Comment: Won first major at PGA last year. Playing with more confidence than ever. Has been in the hunt here before. Could come down to how he putts on back nine Sunday.

*

BILLY MAYFAIR

- Masters played: 5.

- Best finish: 12 (1991).

- Last year: Did not play.

- Comment: Seems to have rediscovered his game. Qualified with playoff victory over Woods at Nissan Open. If his iron game stays strong (27th in greens hit) and he makes some putts, could get a top 10.

*

COLIN MONTGOMERIE

- Masters played: 6.

- Best finish: 17 (1995).

- Last year: T30.

- Comment: Playing more in U.S. this year in effort to win first major. New right-to-left ball flight will help here.

*

GREG NORMAN

- Masters played: 17.

- Best finish: 2 (1986, ‘87, ‘96).

- Last year: Missed cut.

- Comment: Has played only 17 competitive rounds this year and only six on the PGA Tour. Withdrew at Players Championship because of sore left shoulder. Does the fire still burn?

*

PHIL MICKELSON

- Masters played: 5.

- Best finish: 3 (1996).

- Last year: Missed cut.

- Comment: A dozen victories and still not 28. Hasn’t proved himself in a major championship. Can be inconsistent off the tee (87th). Fascination with lob shot around the greens not a plus at Augusta, which demands more variety.

*

JACK NICKLAUS

- Masters played: 39.

- Best finish: 1 (1963, ‘65, ‘66, ‘72, ‘75, ’86 ).

- Last year: T39.

- Comment: Made the cut in three of four majors last year. Played well at Doral earlier this year and says his sore hip is feeling best in years. There are some who say that even at 58 he has one more run left in him.

*

FRANK NOBILO

- Masters played: 3.

- Best finish: 4 (1996).

- Last year: 46.

- Comment: Has had at least one top-10 in a major the last four years. Smart and patient. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the leaderboard Sunday.

*

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL

- Masters played: 10.

- Best finish: 1 (1994).

- Last year: T12.

- Comment: Continues remarkable comeback after missing 18 months because of foot problems. Second on 1998 European money list behind Els. Has all the shots and at 32 should have lots of good golf ahead of him.

*

JESPER PARNEVIK

- Masters played: 1.

- Best finish: 21 (1997).

- Last year: T21.

- Comment: After five seconds last year got his first PGA Tour victory in January. Twice a runner-up in the British Open. Strong player who could be one win away from the big time.

*

NICK PRICE

- Masters played: 12.

- Best finish: 5 (1986).

- Last year: T24.

- Comment: Played well at the Players Championship, covering final 36 holes four under par. Has equipment hassles and frenzy from his great 1994 season finally behind him. Another guy playing with renewed enjoyment.

*

VIJAY SINGH

- Masters played: 4.

- Best finish: 17 (1997).

- Last year: 17.

- Comment: Any advantage his length gives him at Augusta is taken away by his putter, although at 57th he is rolling the ball better this year than in the past.

*

PAUL STANKOWSKI

- Masters played: 2.

- Best finish: 5 (1997).

- Last year: 5.

- Comment: Steady young player who hits a lot of greens (6th). Has the composure to handle Sunday pressure. Kind of guy who could sneak into the picture while everyone is focused on the big names.

*

TOMMY TOLLES

- Masters played: 1.

- Best finish: 3 (1997).

- Last year: 3.

- Comment: Closed with a 67 last year to finish third. Solid putter (24th) but might miss too many greens (94th) to contend. Plays with an easy calm and his wildness off the tee (146th) won’t hurt here.

*

TOM WATSON

- Masters played: 24.

- Best finish: 1 (1977, ‘81).

- Last year: 4.

- Comment: If anyone could break Nicklaus’ record as oldest winner at age 46, it is the 48-year-old Watson. Playing 25th Masters. Is 10th in greens hit and a surprising 11th in putting. That’s a winning combination at Augusta.

*

LEE WESTWOOD

- Masters played: 1.

- Best finish: 24 (1997).

- Last year: T24.

- Comment: At age 24 deserves to be in the group with Mickelson, Duval and Furyk right behind Woods, Els and Leonard among best young players in the world. Got first U.S. victory at New Orleans last week.

*

TIGER WOODS

- Masters played: 3.

- Best finish: 1 (1997).

- Last year: 1.

- Comment: Played the final 63 holes last year 22 under par in shooting a record 270 and winning by 12 strokes. Hard to match near-perfect performance when he had no three-putt greens, but can win with a lesser effort.