The annual quest for the green jacket at Augusta is a sure-fire funk remedy. (Courtesy of tourflags.com)

Golfer Supremacy Rankings feeling green for the 2009 Masters

By William K. Wolfrum,
Contributor

These days at the Golfer Supremacy Rankings, we're in a bit of a funk. And not the good kind of funk that includes sweating and dancing. No, we're in the kind of funk that leads to long walks while sad music is playing. Basically, it's been like your average episode of the new "Beverly Hills 90210," with the exception of far less naked midriffs.

But then we discovered that it's April. And everything became okay again. The Masters is coming. The biggest, most prestigious golf tournament on the planet is set to tee off, and we're oozing with adrenaline. Finally, golf matters again. Golf is back to the front pages where it so deservedly belongs.

So, in honor of the Masters, we've decided to list our favorites for the 2009 green jacket, beginning with a player you may have heard of before.

Golfer Supremacy Rankings

1. Tiger Woods

Comments: Many astute golf writers figured that there would be no way that Woods could return to form in time for the Masters. But, as they almost always are, they were wrong. By winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger showed that his physical and mental game are ready for its biggest challenge since he returned from knee surgery. Add to that a new son, some time hobnobbing with the elite at the Tavistock Cup, and a life that seems just about perfect in every way, and there's no doubt about it - Tiger Woods enters the 2009 Masters as the favorite. And you just know that 90 percent of the televised action will be focused on him. Just like in the good ol' days.

2. Padraig Harrington

Comments: Are we the only ones who think Harrington is a leading man trapped in a golfers body? The guy is like some wonderful combination of Liam Neeson and Sean Connery. With three majors to his name already, the Irishman has picked up his game the past two times out at Augusta, finishing 7th and 5th. As a golfer who seems to keep his head while all around him folks are losing theirs, expect to see the handsome Harrington in contention come Sunday.

3. Trevor Immelman

Comments: Immelman's the defending champion, so we have to include him. But we apologize, we just can't get that excited about him. Expect to see him Sunday, draping the green jacket over the new winner's shoulders. That should be about his only accomplishment for the weekend, as we see it.

4. Phil Mickelson

Comments: Lefty has won the Masters twice, and is truly one of the few golfers on the planet that can destroy a field when he's got his game going. Thus far in 2009, he's been up and down, so who knows where his head will be at Augusta. But Mickelson is not one to ever be counted out, and he may just win to irk his many detractors.

The Golfer Supremacy Masters Prediction: Sergio Garcia

While Tiger, Padraig, Lefty and Trevor are all mentioned due to their past successes at Augusta, they still don't excite us as much as they should. That's because we here at the GSR continue to be enamored with Sergio Garcia. Like last year, and the year before, and the year before that, we think that this is Garcia's year. He has the game, he has the name, he has the fame. He's ready.

Of course, we've pronounced the Spaniard as our favorite many times before, and he's responded by going into brain freeze and screwing up the whole thing. So sure, we're wary. But we can't help ourselves - look for Sergio Garcia to win the 2009 Masters. And remember you read it here first. Unless he chokes again. Then never mind.

Random Quote: "It's hard for me to sit here and tell you that it can't be done. Because I've done it before." - Tiger Woods, explaining why he's going into the 2009 Masters feeling confident.

April 8, 2009

William K. Wolfrum keeps one eye on the PGA Tour and another watching golf vacation hotspots and letting travelers in on the best place to vacation. You can follow him on Twitter @Wolfrum.