TOP CONTENDERS FOR THE GREEN JACKET BRYSON

Age: 27 Country: United States World ranking: 6 Worldwide wins: 8 Majors: U.S. Open (2020). 2020 majors: PGA Championship-T4, U.S. OpenWon.

Best of 2020: Winning his first major at Winged Foot with a U.S. Open strategy that showed he sometimes knows what he’s talking about.

Masters memory: A tie for 21st in 2016 to be the low amateur. That’s still his best finish in three Masters appearances.

Backspin: He might be getting more attention than Tiger Woods going into the Masters for the way he added nearly 50 pounds of mass to support his effort to swing as hard as possible. He wants to have a 48-inch driver in play for the Masters. He already has hit a 400-yard drive at home and plans to dismantle Augusta National with length. He still has to chip and putt, which he did exceedingly well at the U.S. Open.

KOEPKA

Age: 30

Country: United States

World ranking: 12

Worldwide wins: 10

Majors: U.S. Open (2017, 2018),

PGA Championship (2018, 2019).

2020 majors: PGA Championship-T29, U.S. Open-DNP. Best of 2020: Two shots off the lead going into the final round at Harding Park with a chance to become the first player to win the PGA Championship three straight years in stroke play. He didn’t make birdie until the 12th hole, shot 74 and tied for 29th.

Masters memory: Bouncing back from a double bogey in the water on No. 12 to an eagle on the 13th and finishing one shot behind Tiger Woods.

Backspin: With the pandemic and injuries, Koepka has spent more time at home than at tournaments. He started the year at No. 1 and goes into the Masters at No. 12. In 14 tournaments this year, he has only had a chance to win the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He drove into the water on the 18th and tied for second.

Age: 44 Country: United States World ranking: 32 Worldwide wins: 93 Majors: Masters (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), U.S. Open (2000, 2002, 2008), British Open (2000, 2005, 2006), PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007).

2020 majors: PGA Championship-T37, U.S. OpenCut

est of 2020: Breaking par all four rounds at Torrey Pines to tie for ninth. It was the only time all year he finished in the top 10.

Masters memory: Winning in 2019 to end 11 years without a major, 14 years without a Masters, capping off a return from four back surgeries and being able to share the moment with his two children.

Backspin: This is the first year Woods has failed to contend in any tournament when he wasn’t injured. He went five months without playing because of the pandemic, and he has played consecutive weeks on only one occasion as he limits his competition.