Leading contenders for the 2004 Masters

Tiger Woods (U.S.), age 28

World Ranking: 1

Number of Masters: 9

Best finish in a Masters: Won in 1997, 2001 and 2002

Best player in the world since Jack Nicklaus but his dominance has diminished over the last 15 months. Won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February but has been struggling off the tee and with the precision of his approach play. Failed to win a major last year for the first time since 1998.

Won his third Masters title in April 2002 and his second U.S. Open crown at Bethpage Black in June to lift his career haul of majors to eight in only 22 professional starts, drawing him level with Tom Watson in the all-time listings.

Was youngest player, aged 21, to win the Masters in 1997 with a record 12-stroke victory and became the first person to hold all four majors at the same time with his two-shot triumph over David Duval at the 2001 Masters.

Won the last three majors of 2000, the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a record 15 strokes before claiming the British Open at St Andrews by eight shots and his second U.S. PGA championship title in a playoff with Bob May.

Vijay Singh (Fiji), 41

World Golf Ranking: 2

Number of Masters: 10

Best Masters finish: Won in 2000

Hottest player in the game for the last five months of 2003, producing top-six finishes in his last eight starts on the PGA Tour -- including two wins -- before ending Woods's four-year reign as the tour's leading money winner. Took that form into 2004, winning the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.

Missed the cut on his next start, at the Buick Invitational, after 12 successive top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. Has set his sights on eclipsing Woods as world number one but concedes he needs to win more tournaments if he is to achieve that goal.

A Fijian of Indian descent whose name means 'victory' in Hindi, Singh possesses a work ethic to match Woods. Claimed his first major title in the 1998 U.S. PGA championship at Sahalee and won his second at the 2000 U.S. Masters.

Usually plays well at Augusta National and contended for last year's Masters with opening rounds of 73, 71 and 70. However slipped back into a tie for sixth after a last-day 73.

Ernie Els (South Africa), 34

World Golf Ranking: 3

Number of Masters: 10

Best Masters finish: 2nd behind Vijay Singh in 2000.

Was one of the game's standout figures in 2003 with seven victories worldwide. Dominated the European Tour, winning four times, and finished ninth in the PGA Tour money list, after clinching the first two events of the season. Has won twice this year, at the Hawaiian Open and Heineken Classic in Australia.

Won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994 and at Congressional in 1997 before securing his third major in a playoff for the 2002 British Open at Muirfield, a victory that convinced him he has the game and the mind to deal with the last-day pressures down the stretch.

Became the first player to place runner-up in three straight major championships in 2000, finishing second behind Singh at the U.S. Masters and to Woods at the U.S. and British Opens.

Possesses one of the smoothest swings in golf, and is also one of the longest hitters. Has finished no worse than tied for sixth in his last four starts at Augusta National. Fought back into a tie for sixth last year with closing scores of 66, 72 and 70 after carding a first-day 79.

Davis Love III (U.S.), 39

World Ranking: 4

Number of Masters: 14

Best Masters finish: 2nd in 1995 and 1999

Has been one of the game's best players for more than a decade and displayed superb form on the 2003 PGA Tour, winning four times with 10 other top-15 finishes. Will arrive at Augusta in confident mood, following four top-10 placings in his first seven U.S. starts of the year.

Had several near misses in major tournaments before making his breakthrough in the 1997 U.S. PGA Championship at Winged Foot, successive rounds of 66 over the weekend earning him a five-stroke victory over Justin Leonard.

Made his first impact at the Masters in 1995, firing a closing 66 to finish second, a stroke behind winner Ben Crenshaw. Tied for seventh in 1996 and 1997 before claiming another runner-up spot at Augusta in 1999, ending up two shots adrift of Jose Maria Olazabal.

Failed in 2002 to finish in the top 10 at all four majors for the first time since 1994, but last year bounced back from an opening 77 to tie for 15th at the Masters and shared fourth, alongside Woods, in the British Open at Royal St George's.

Mike Weir (Canada) 33

World Ranking: 5

Number of Masters: 4

Best Masters finish: Won in 2003

Became the first left-hander to win a major in 40 years at Augusta last year, edging out American journeyman Len Mattiace in a playoff for the U.S. Masters. Fired a closing 68 and then clinched victory at the first extra hole to become the first Canadian to secure a grand slam title.

Climbed to a career-high fifth in the world with his major breakthrough, his third title on the 2003 PGA Tour and sixth of his career. Maintained that form to end the season fifth in the U.S. money list, with earnings of $4,918,910.

Made a strong start on this year's PGA Tour, producing two top-five finishes in his first four outings before winning the Nissan Open in Los Angeles in February. Believes his game is in slightly better shape going into his Masters title defence than it was 12 months ago.

A rock-steady player with a superb putting touch, he won his first PGA Tour title at the 1999 Air Canada Championship. Became the first Canadian to play in the Presidents Cup competition in 2000, leading the international side with a 3-2-0 record. Broke into the world's top 10 for the first time in 2001.

Retief Goosen (South Africa), 35

World Golf Ranking: 7

Number of Masters: 5

Best Masters finish: 2nd in 2002

Made his major breakthrough in 2001 with a playoff triumph in the U.S. Open at Southern Hills, after nearly squandering his victory chance when he three-putted the 72nd green. Won twice in Europe that year and became the first non-European to head the season-ending European money list since Greg Norman in 1982.

Was a dominant figure in 2002. Posted back-to-back wins at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia and the Dimension Data Pro-Am in South Africa, won the PGA Tour's BellSouth Classic, finished second to Woods at the U.S. Masters and ended the year by retaining his European order of merit title.

Failed to extend his reign as European number one for a third successive year in 2003, but won the Lancome Trophy in France last September and clinched his third U.S. title at the Chrysler Championship in November.

Improved results since 2000 owe much to his work with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout. Has focused exclusively on the PGA Tour this season, with four top-10 finishes in his first six starts. Came third at last month's Doral Championship but missed the cut in his next two events.

Padraig Harrington (Ireland), 32

World Golf Ranking: 8

Number of Masters: 4

Best Masters finish: tied for fifth in 2002

The consistent Irishman, Europe's only player in the world's top 10, is the continent's most likely winner at Augusta. Broke back into the top 10 after seven weeks out by finishing second behind Scott at The Players Championship on Sunday, after scorching round the back nine in six-under-par 30.

Finished third in last year's European order of merit after six top-10 finishes in 20 starts, including victories at the season-opening Asian Open and the Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe. Surprisingly missed the cut at the U.S. Masters, but tied for 10th at the U.S. Open and shared 22nd at the British Open.

Shone in the first three majors of 2002, tying for fifth in his third U.S. Masters, sharing eighth spot in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black and finishing joint fifth in the British Open at Muirfield.

Has worked hard on his fitness after struggling with an ankle injury and neck pains in the latter half of 2002. Won the European Tour's season-opening Hong Kong Open last December and should be a factor at Augusta with his renowned scrambling ability.

Phil Mickelson (U.S.), 33

World Ranking: 10

Number of Masters: 11

Best Masters finish: 3rd in 1996, 2001, 2002 and 2003

Gifted player with 21 career U.S. PGA Tour titles but, despite 17 top-10 finishes in 46 starts, has yet to win a major. Has the game to win on any course but doubts persist over his preoccupation with raw power off the tee at the expense of accuracy and control.

Has been in sparkling form this season, winning the Chrysler Classic on his first start of the year and following up with five top-10 finishes in his next six events. Based on track record, expect him to challenge at Augusta, where he has finished third for the last three years.

After an outstanding amateur career, the Californian left-hander turned professional at the 1992 U.S. Open and became the third player after Jack Nicklaus and Jerry Pate to win five titles by the age of 25.

Last year, produced four top-10 finishes in his first five starts before taking a break with his family after the birth in March of his third child. Finished third in the U.S. Masters, but slipped to joint 55th at the U.S. Open, joint 59th at the British Open and tied for 23rd at the U.S. PGA Championship.

Adam Scott (Australia), 23

World Ranking: 12

Number of Masters: 2

Best Masters finish: tied for ninth in 2002

Tipped by many as a future world number one, he clinched the biggest title of his career at The Players Championship on Sunday, an event widely regarded as the 'fifth major'. Has occasionally lacked confidence in the past, but believes he can win at Augusta.

Was ranked the world's number two amateur before turning pro in 2000. Secured his European card for 2001 by tying for sixth at the German Masters on his eighth pro start. Has won four European Tour titles, most recently the 2003 Scandinavian Masters.

Clinched his maiden PGA Tour title at the Deutsche Bank Championship last September, having signalled his rich promise earlier in the year when losing to eventual winner Woods over 20 holes in the semi-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa.

Coached initially by his father Phil, he is now guided by Butch Harmon, who previously advised world number one Woods on his swing. The similarity between the two players is uncanny. A studiously quiet Australian who loves to read biographies, Scott is among the longest hitters in the game.

Chad Campbell (U.S.), 29

World Golf Ranking: 13

Number of Masters: 1

Best Masters finish: missed the cut in 2003

Regarded as a class act by his peers since he won eight of the first 16 events on the 2000 U.S. Hooters Tour, the breeding ground for the main PGA Tour. Confirmed that promise with a six-shot victory at last month's Bay Hill Invitational, coming from four behind with 11 holes to play with a closing 66.

Known for his attacking style and ability to hit fairways and greens, he has produced three top-10 finishes in his last four PGA Tour starts. Missed the cut in his debut Masters last year but is expected to flourish at Augusta next week.

Voted by his peers as the 'player most likely to win a major' in a 2003 poll by Sports Illustrated magazine and nearly delivered in the U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill, where he led with Shaun Micheel after round three. Finished runner-up after Micheel almost holed out with his approach at the 72nd hole.

Clinched his maiden PGA Tour title with a three-shot victory at the Tour Championship in Houston, setting up his win with a tournament record 10-under-par 61 in the third round. Became the first player in tour history to record his debut win at the event, and ended the season seventh in the U.S. money list.

David Toms (U.S.), 37

World Golf Ranking: 14

Number of Masters: 6

Best Masters finish: tied for sixth in 1998

Created a huge impression on his U.S. Masters debut in 1998 when he fired a closing 64, including a back nine of 29, on his way to a share of sixth place.

Made his major breakthrough in 2001, capturing the U.S. PGA championship by a shot from Phil Mickelson at Atlanta Athletic Club with a birdie at the par-five 72nd hole. After laying up in two, he wedged to 10 feet and holed the putt.

Struggled to make an impression in the 2002 majors, with a highest finish of joint 36th at the U.S. Masters, but regained form last year, tying for eighth at Augusta and sharing fifth in the U.S. Open. at Olympia Fields.

Has been a consistent performer on the PGA Tour for the last five years. In 2003, won the Wachovia Championship and the Fedex St Jude Classic before ending the year eighth in the U.S. money list. Mixed performances this season, with two missed cuts and two top-10 finishes in his first five starts.

Darren Clarke (Britain), 35

World Ranking: 15

Number of Masters: 6

Best Masters finish: tied for eighth in 1998

The Northern Irishman has worked hard on his fitness and mental approach over the last 15 months and is likely to be a factor next week. Led the Masters by three shots last year after a first-round 66 but fell back into a tie for 28th.

Is capable of getting on to a red-hot run and has twice fired scores of 60 on the European Tour, a nine-under-par round at the Monte Carlo Open in 1992 and a superb 12-under-par round at the European Open in 1999.

Became the first European player to win one of the elite World Golf Championship events, clinching the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2000 by beating David Duval in the semi-final and Tiger Woods in the 36-hole final at La Costa.

A top-10 finisher in the European order of merit for six consecutive seasons, he slipped to 22nd in 2002 before finishing second last year, boosted by a four-shot victory in the WGC-NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio. In 2004, has produced three top-10 finishes in the U.S. and one in Europe.