Masters 2012: First Round Begins Thursday Morning At Augusta National

Tiger Woods Begins 2012 Masters With Hype, Confidence And Something To Prove

It's been almost four years since Tiger Woods has won a major, and since then he's undergone many changes. Can he get back on track at The Masters, picking up the chase of Jack Nicklaus' record in the process?

The Masters 2012: TV Coverage, Live Stream And More

The 2012 Masters first round is set for Thursday morning. Fans eager to watch Tiger Woods compete for a comeback win at a major against a stacked field that includes Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and a host of others, all vying for the green jacket, will have a variety of viewing options.

ESPN will feature live coverage of the first round beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can also tune in early for live video coverage of Amen Corner at Masters.com. Here's a complete look at the viewing and audio options for Thursday's first round:

LIVE COVERAGE ON MASTERS.COM

10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m.: 
Amen Corner live video coverage

11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.
: Hole Nos. 15 and 16 live video coverage

12 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: 
Featured Group 1 live video coverage; 
Featured Group 2 live video coverage

3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: 
Masters In-Depth live video coverage and highlights

MASTERS RADIO

2 p.m.: 
Masters Radio live audio

TV COVERAGE

3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: 
Live coverage on ESPN

4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
: Live 3D coverage on ESPN 3D

8 p.m. - 11 p.m.: 
Replay of the telecast on ESPN

11:30 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.: 
Highlights Show on CBS

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters Odds: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson Remain The Favorites In 2012 Masters

Masters 2012: Tradition Proves To Be A Double-Edged Sword At Augusta National Golf Club

One of the main reasons golf fans love the Masters is because of the event's rich tradition, which spans some 70 years. But sometimes following tradition has its downside.

2012 Masters Honorary Starters: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer And Gary Player Start The Tournament

The 2012 Masters gets underway early Thursday morning, with the Honorary Starters signaling the start of the tournament yet again. The tradition of having an Honorary Starter or starters began at Augusta National in 1963. Arnold Palmer, who has been an honorary starter since 2007, and Jack Nicklaus, who began his tenure as an honorary starter in 2010, will be joined by a third starter this year.

Hall of Fame golfer Gary Player will join them on the first tee this season for the first time. Player, Nicklaus and Palmer competed against each other for multiple decades and were golf's most dominant players in the 1960s and 1970s. Each Masters from 1960 to 1966 was won by one of the three men. Between the three of them, they have won The Masters 13 times.

A full leaderboard throughout the tournament can be found at Masters.com.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012 Weather Forecast: Possible Showers And Storms This Afternoon

Rain showers and possible thunderstorms are expected later this afternoon at Augusta National Golf Club. This could cause delays or possible postponement for some of the afternoon groups.

The first round of the Masters starts off with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Clouds will increase through the morning and into the afternoon. There is just a small chance for an isolated shower or storm during the late morning.

The threat of showers and thunderstorms increases during the afternoon when we get into the heat of the day. Any storms that form could be strong and potentially severe with heavy rain, gusty winds and frequent lightning. High temperatures by the afternoon could reach the low 80s with winds out of the south-southwest between 5 to 15 mph. Rain showers and scattered thunderstorms should continue into the evening and overnight.

A chance of showers remains in the forecast for the start of the second round on Friday as the system that brought the rain Thursday slowly exits to the east. Rain threat is expected to diminish and end by Friday afternoon. It will be much cooler and breezy as temperatures will be in the mid 60s and winds out of the north-northeast at around 10 to 20 mph.

Weather forecast for the final two rounds looks very nice and pleasant. Sunny skies are expected both Saturday and Sunday with highs ranging from the low- to upper-70s.

For more weather updates online follow @BrianNeudorff on Twitter.

Conditions in August, GA: Click here for Current Weather Conditions | Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar

THURSDAY - FIRST ROUND:
8 a.m. EDT
Partly sunny – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 64
10 a.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine, isolated chance of shower/storm – Winds: West 5-10 mph - temp: 71
12 p.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine, chance of shower or storm – Winds: WSW 5-10 mph - temp: 76
2 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, chance of a shower or storm – Winds: WSW 5-10 mph - temp: 79
4 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, possible shower or t'storm – Winds: SW 5-10 mph - temp: 81
6 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, possible shower or t'storm – Winds: South 5-10 mph - temp: 77

FRIDAY - SECOND ROUND:
8 a.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, chance of scattered shower – Winds: NNE 10-15 mph - temp: 54
10 a.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, chance of scattered shower – Winds: NNE 10-15 mph - temp: 59
12 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, chance of scattered shower – Winds: NNE 10-20 mph - temp: 63
2 p.m. EDT
Clouds & Sunshine – Winds: NE 10-20 mph - temp: 65
4 p.m. EDT
Clouds & Sunshine – Winds: NE 10-20 mph - temp: 66
6 p.m. EDT
Clouds & Sunshine – Winds: NE 10-15 mph - temp: 64

SATURDAY - THIRD ROUND:
8 a.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: NNE 3-8 mph - temp: 45
10 a.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: NE 3-8 mph - temp: 57
12 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: NE 5-10 mph - temp: 67
2 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: NE 5-10 mph - temp: 70
4 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: ENE 3-8 mph - temp: 73
6 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: East 3-8 mph - temp: 71

SUNDAY - FINAL ROUND:
8 a.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 49
10 a.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 62
12 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 71
2 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 75
4 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: WSW 3-8 mph - temp: 78
6 p.m. EDT
Sunny skies – Winds: WSW 3-8 mph - temp: 76

The Masters 2012: 'Birdie-fest' Favors Fearless Young Guns At Soggy Augusta National

Fierce storms that have battered Augusta National Golf Club promise a "birdie-fest" in Thursday's opening round of the Masters.

Watch The Masters 2012 Live: Streaming Online Options

The 2012 Masters Tournament gets underway on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club. Fans unable to make the trip to Augusta, Ga., or be in front of a television will have the option of streaming the tournament at Masters.com, beginning at approximately 10:45 a.m. ET. When the stream goes live will depend on when players are expected to make the turn and could begin earlier or later, depending on the speed of play.

Here is the tentative Masters.com schedule for round one:

LIVE COVERAGE ON MASTERS.COM

10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m.: 
Amen Corner live video coverage

11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.
: Hole Nos. 15 and 16 live video coverage

12 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: 
Featured Group 1 live video coverage; 
Featured Group 2 live video coverage

3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: 
Masters In-Depth live video coverage and highlights

CBS, which is broadcasting the Masters for the 57th straight year, will also allow fans to follow along via their "Masters Live 2012" website, which will have a leader board and course statistics, and allow visitors to track individual golfers. WatchESPN.com will also be showing live coverage of the first two rounds of the Masters beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters Tee Times And Pairings: Mickelson, McIlroy, Watson All Start In The 1 PM Hour

After some inclement weather spoiled the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday, the first round of the 2012 Masters is set to begin on Thursday morning, with Tiger Woods teeing off at 10:35 a.m. ET with "The Mechanic" Angel Jimenez and 25-year-old rookie Sang Moon Bae.

Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan and Peter Hanson are set for a 1:53 p.m. ET tee time, with Mahan coming off of his Shell Houston Open win to complement the headliner Mickelson. Rory McIlory and Bubba Watson will start just ten minutes prior, paired with Angel Cabrera. Cabrera was paired with McIlroy last year in the final round, when McIlroy collapsed down the stretch.

• 7:50 a.m. / 10:57 a.m. - Craig Stadler, Brendan Steele, Tim Clark
• 8:01 a.m. / 11:08 a.m. - Jose Maria Olazabal, Robert Garrigus, a-Randal Lewis
• 8:12 a.m. / 11:19 a.m. - Larry Mize, Paul Lawrie, Anders Hansen
• 8:23 a.m. / 11:30 a.m. - Ross Fisher, Ryan Palmer, Harrison Frazar
• 8:34 a.m. / 11:41 a.m. - Ben Crenshaw, Robert Karlsson, a-Bryden Macpherson
• 8:45 a.m. / 11:52 a.m. - Adam Scott, Bo Van Pelt, Martin Kaymer
• 8:56 a.m. / 12:14 p.m. - Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink
• 9:07 a.m. / 12:25 p.m. - Aaron Baddeley, Kyung-Tae Kim, Lucas Glover
• 9:18 a.m. / 12:36 p.m. - Kyle Stanley, Jason Day, Bill Haas
• 9:29 a.m. / 12:47 p.m. - Trevor Immelman, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose
• 9:40 a.m. / 12:58 p.m. - Tom Watson, Johnson Wagner, a-Hideki Matsuyama
• 10:02 a.m. / 1:09 p.m. - Matt Kuchar, Geoff Ogilvy, Y.E. Yang
• 10:13 a.m. / 1:20 p.m. - Gary Woodland, Henrik Stenson, Alvaro Quiros
• 10:24 a.m. / 1:31 p.m. - Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, a-Kelly Kraft
• 10:35 a.m. / 1:42 p.m. - Tiger Woods, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sang-Moon Bae
• 10:46 a.m. / 1:53 p.m. - Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari, Nick Watney
• 10:57 a.m. / 7:50 a.m. - Scott Verplank, Sean O'Hair, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
• 11:08 a.m. / 8:01 a.m. - Mark O'Meara, Chez Reavie, Martin Laird
• 11:19 a.m. / 8:12 a.m. - Sandy Lyle, Simon Dyson, a-Corbin Mills
• 11:30 a.m. / 8:23 a.m. - Ian Woosnam, Eduardo Molinari, Kevin Chappell
• 11:41 a.m. / 8:34 a.m. - Louis Oosthuizen, Mark Wilson, Graeme McDowell
• 11:52 a.m. / 8:45 a.m. - Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, a-Patrick Cantlay
• 12:14 p.m. / 8:56 a.m. - Kevin Na, Fredrik Jacobson, Ben Crane
• 12:25 p.m./ 9:07 a.m. - John Senden, Jonathan Byrd, Paul Casey
• 12:36 p.m. / 9:18 a.m. - Bernhard Langer, Jason Dufner, Charles Howell III
• 12:47 p.m. / 9:29 a.m. - Mike Weir, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson
• 12:58 p.m. / 9:40 a.m. - Vijay Singh, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk
• 1:09 p.m. / 10:02 a.m. - Thomas Bjorn, Scott Stallings, Rory Sabbatini
• 1:20 p.m. / 10:13 a.m. - Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Ryo Ishikawa
• 1:31 p.m. / 10:24 a.m. - David Toms, K.J. Choi, Sergio Garcia
• 1:42 p.m. / 10:35 a.m. - Angel Cabrera, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson
• 1:53 p.m. / 10:46 a.m. - Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Peter Hanson

For more on the 2012 Masters, be sure to visit SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters 2012: NASCAR's Denny Hamlin Caddies For Bubba Watson In Par-3 Tournament

Masters 2012: Padraig Harrington, Jonathan Byrd Win Par 3 Contest, Jinx Chances At Augusta National

Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd share top honors in the Par 3 contest, which means neither one has a chance to win The Masters.

Masters 2012: Quick Weather Forecast For The First Two Rounds

Rain is in the forecast for the first two rounds of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. The rain threat should not last all day and we should expect plenty of dry time, especially Thursday morning and Friday afternoon.

Meteorologists are tracking a storm system that will drag a cold front across the area Thursday into Thursday night. The best chance for shower and storm development will be from mid-afternoon Thursday overnight into Friday morning. Showers and storms that form Thursday afternoon could have heavy rains and lightning associated with them. Depending on how heavy and widespread they become, this could cause delays and possible postponement of some of the later groups. Afternoon temperatures on Thursday will reach the upper-70s to low-80s. Winds will range between five to 15 mph with strong gusts with storms approaching from the west in the morning to the southwest in the afternoon.

By Friday morning showers will begin to end and push off towards the east and the coast. High pressure with drier air will arrive late Friday morning and Friday afternoon. Not only will the air behind the departing cold front be drier, it will also be cooler by almost fifteen degrees. Afternoon temperatures will be in the mid-60s with stronger winds out of the north-northeast around 10 to 20 mph.

The rest of the weekend weather for the final two rounds looks very nice and pleasant. Sunny skies are expected Saturday and Sunday with highs ranging from the low- to upper-70s.

I normally contribute weather forecasts for SBNation.com NASCAR, so for updates on Twitter please follow me @NASCAR_WXMAN.

Conditions in August, GA: Click here for Current Weather Conditions | Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar

THURSDAY:
8 a.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine – Winds: West 3-8 mph - temp: 66
10 a.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine, isolated chance of shower/storm – Winds: West 5-10 mph - temp: 71
12 p.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine, chance of shower or storm – Winds: WSW 5-10 mph - temp: 76
2 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, possible shower and storm – Winds: WSW 5-10 mph - temp: 79
4 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, possible shower and storm – Winds: SSW 5-10 mph - temp: 81
6 p.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, possible shower and storm – Winds: South 5-10 mph - temp: 77

FRIDAY:
8 a.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, slight chance of a lingering shower – Winds: NNE 10-15 mph - temp: 54
10 a.m. EDT
Mostly cloudy, slight chance of a lingering shower – Winds: NNE 10-15 mph - temp: 59
12 p.m. EDT
Clouds & sunshine – Winds: NE 10-20 mph - temp: 63
2 p.m. EDT
Partly sunny – Winds: NE 10-20 mph - temp: 65
4 p.m. EDT
Partly sunny – Winds: NE 10-20 mph - temp: 66
6 p.m. EDT
Partly sunny – Winds: NE 10-15 mph - temp: 64

Masters 2012 Picks And Predictions: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson Lead The Way

A look at the favorites, the field and the contenders ahead of Thursday's opening round of The Masters.

2012 Masters Par 3 Contest Cancelled Due To Thunderstorms

The 2012 Masters Par 3 Contest has been cancelled due to thunderstorms. Padraig Harrington and Jonathan Byrd were tied atop the leaderboard at 5-under when the play was initially suspended, and will share the Par 3 title as a result.

Byrd's birdie putt on the ninth and final hole rolled in the cup as sirens sounded signalling the end of play to give him a share of the lead. Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Jerry Pate finished in a three-way tied for second one stroke behind Byrd and Harrington. Pate may have rightful reason to be upset by the early decision. His 4-under came with four holes still left to play.

Phil Mickelson and Kelly Kraft tied for sixth place at 3-under. The contest featured two aces, one by Denmark's Thomas Bjorn on No. 9 and another by Mark Wilson on No. 4.

Check out Masters.com for a full leaderboard.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

The Masters Par 3 Contest 2012 Leaderboard: Padraig Harringon Up 1 Stroke Through 9

Padraig Harrington holds a one-stroke lead over the field after completing the nine-hole course at the 2012 Masters Par 3 Contest. Behind him is a large group of talented challengers. Adam Scott, Jonathan Byrd and Webb Simpson all sit one stroke behind at 4-under through nine, eight and seven holes, respectively. Phil Mickelson and Kelly Kraft finished two shots off the lead.

Several players could challenge for Harrington's spot atop the leaderboard. Jerry Pate is already at 4-under after four holes. Rory Sabbatini and Brandon Steele are at 1-under with six holes left to play. Edoardo Molinari has played just one hole but is already at 1-under.

Gary Player, the legend himself, could also make a run at Harrington. He sits at 1-under after just two holes. Check out Masters.com for a full leaderboard.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012: Billy Payne Refuses To Discuss Augusta National’s Membership Policy

Want to know if or when Augusta National will admit women to its membership rolls? Club chair Billy Payne says it's none of your business.

The Masters Par 3 Contest 2012 Leaderboard: Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott Are Early Leaders

Although the first round of the 2012 Masters in Augusta does not tee off until Thursday, many players are spending Wednesday participating in the annual warm-up event, the Masters Par 3 Contest.

Tournament invitees, former champions and other special invitees are playing nine holes of golf at the most famous course in the world. About midway through the contest, Padraig Harrington and Adam Scott are atop the leaderboard, with each player currently sitting at 3-under.

Harrington's 3-under is through five holes, while Scott has only made it through three and is poised to outpace the rest of the field. Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are among the five golfers currently at 2-under.

If you wanted to keep track of the Par 3 contest, you can find the live leaderboard by clicking here.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson Relishing Mentor Role

As the Masters elder statesmen, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are mentoring younger golfers about how to prepare for Augusta National -- only they may not be sharing every state secret with their eager pupils.

Gender Equality Not An Issue For Lee Westwood At Augusta

Masters Par 3 Contest 2012: Curses, Kids And One Last Relaxing Event

Will this be the year the curse of The Masters Par 3 Contest is broken? More on that, as well as what to watch for as this year's event kicks off on Wednesday.

Ernie Els' Absence From 2012 Masters Raises Questions

After failing to earn an invitation to the 2012 Masters, Ernie Els will miss the year's opening major for the first time in 18 years. What does this mean for his future in golf, and can he return to Augusta next year?

Masters Par 3 Contest 2012, Tee Times And TV Schedule For Wednesday

The 2012 Masters Par 3 Contest takes place on Wednesday, providing an early glimpse of Augusta National for fans and players alike. The 52-year-old tradition, according to Masters.com, has yet to see its winner wear the green jacket on Sunday afternoon in the same year.

The golfers begin the day at 12:30 p.m. ET, but Masters.com won't start streaming the event online until 3 p.m. ET. ESPN and ESPN 3D will both have two hours of coverage of the event at the same time as Masters.com.

Who will be competing in this event? It will include those participating in the tournament as well as former champions and other special invitees. However, Luke Donald will not defend his 2011 title, preferring to play nine holes of golf on Wednesday.

The contest takes place across 1,060 yards and nine holes.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012: Tiger Woods Is Ready For Augusta

The 2012 Masters will officially get underway on Thursday, but four-time green jacket winner Tiger Woods is already the betting favorite. Should he manage to win, not only will he be one step closer to matching Jack Nicklaus' record of six Masters titles, but the victory would be his 73rd career PGA Tour win, tying him with Nicklaus for second on the all-time list.

With all that riding on his shoulders, Woods is coming off his first tournament win in two years and appears to be in good spirits. Bob Harig of ESPN.com reports that Woods is ready for this year's event at Augusta.

"I certainly am excited about playing and really looking forward to getting out there and playing," Woods said Tuesday after a nine-hole practice round with Fred Couples and Sean O'Hair. "I feel like I'm driving the ball much better than I have. I've got some heat behind it, and it's very straight.

"My iron game is improving. So everything is headed in the right direction at the right time."

At his Tuesday press conference, Woods certainly appeared more relaxed and confident than he has in years. If he can manage to take home the green jacket, it will put to rest any whispers about his career being over.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on golf in general, check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

My Dog Ate My Masters Tickets

The Masters 2012, Champions Dinner: Charl Schwartzel Serving Various Meats

More than any other golf tournament, the Masters is defined by its traditions, with one of the most notable being the Champions Dinner.

Started by Ben Hogan in the 1950s, it's a dinner at which all of the previous Masters winners in the field come together on the Tuesday before the first round, with last year's champion determining the meal.

Charl Schwartzel, last year's champion, has requested that each player cook his own meat, but the tournament has given no indication that they will honor that request.

The South African is planning a meal from his country called a braai, a traditional meal made up of grilled meats, lamb chops, steak and African sausages.

In previous years, Phil Mickelson has chosen paella, barbecued ribs and lobster, while Tiger Woods -- who has had many opportunities to showcase his culinary interests, thanks to four Masters wins -- has gone with quesadillas, steak, sushi and cheeseburgers.

In popular culture, the Champions Dinner might be most famous for Fuzzy Zoeller's comment to Woods that he should not to serve collard greens and fried chicken following Woods' 1997 victory at Augusta, which made became the first African-American to win the tournament.

Masters 2012: Dustin Johnson Withdraws Due To Injury

As the 2012 Masters is set to begin play on Thursday, there has already surprisingly been a withdraw from the annual tournament. Dustin Johnson will not be competing in the 2012 Masters due to an injury, a tweaked back, as Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel tweets.

Whoa. Announcement in press room: "Dustin Johnson will not be competing due to injury." Didn't see that one coming. Cross him off your list.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGC) April 3, 2012

Sobel tweeted immediately after that the injury that forced Johnson's withdrawal was a tweaked back. That means that there will be one less player in the Masters field, as no one will take Johnson's spot. Johnson was set to tee off on Thursday, but his official tee time was not released at the time of his WD.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters Tee Times And Pairings 2012: Tiger Woods Tees Off At 10:35 A.M. ET On Thursday

The 2012 Masters is set to tee off on Thursday beginning at 7:50 a.m. ET. The first pairing that will tee include Americans Craig Stadler, Brendan Steele, and Tim Clark of South Africa. There are a total of 32 different groups that tee off for the 2012 Masters, with the final group teeing off at 1:53 p.m. ET, which includes the likes of Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, and Peter Hanson.

Some of the more notable players tee times include Tiger Woods, who's paired with Sang-Moon Bae and Miguel Angel Jimenez, tee off at 10:35 a.m. ET. The No. 1 ranked player in the world, Luke Donald, tees off just after Woods group at 10:46 a.m. ET while Rory McIlroy will tee off in the same group as Bubba Watson later in the day at 1:42 p.m. ET.

You can find the rest of the pairings and tee times at by following this link.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012 Odds: Tiger Woods Too High On Betting Menu

The Masters Traditions: From Green Jackets To Champions' Perks

The Masters boasts numerous unique traditions, so get acquainted with them as the year's first major approaches.

VIDEO: Martin Kaymer Aces No. 16 At Augusta By Skipping The Pond

Masters Odds: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Remain Favorites In 2012 Masters

With the azaleas in full bloom at Augusta National Golf Club, four-time winner Tiger Woods (4/1) and Rory McIlroy (5/1) remain the leading favorites to don the green jacket on Sunday, according to Bovada Sportsbook.

McIlroy has never won the Masters, but posted his best finish (15th) in 2011. Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson remains third behind Woods and McIlroy, improving from 12/1 to 11/1 on Tuesday.

Englishmen Luke Donald and Lee Westwood have gone from 14/1 on Monday to 16/1 on Tuesday to round out the Top 5. Donald has never won a Major Championship and his best finish at Augusta came in 2005 when he finished tied for third. Westwood has also never won a Major, but finished second to Mickelson in the 2010 Masters.

Hunter Mahan, who won the 2012 Houston Shell Open on Sunday, is at 28/1 to win after improving to 25/1 following his win this past weekend. The 29-year-old Mahan's top finish in the Masters was when he tied for eighth place in 2010.

Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley and Charl Schwartzel round out the Top 10 (33/1).

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012: An Azalea-Free Masters

A signature of the Augusta National Golf Club will be missing from the 2012 Masters Tournament. The red, pink and white azaleas have lost their bloom due to an early arrival of Spring, The Associated Press reports.

"I saw them, but it was last week," defending champion Charl Schwartzel said. "I was here a week ago last Thursday, and they were beautiful. But the first thing I thought was, 'They're all going to be gone.' I thought Augusta would be able to do something -- get the fans on them or something. It's weird."

The par 5 13th hole, named "Azalea" for the 1,600 azalea bushes that line the left side of the hole from tee to green, has only a dozen or so bushes in bloom behind the green. The lack of flowers for this year's tournament figures to dispel the myth that Augusta National packs the flowers in ice or keeps them in a greenhouse until Masters week, but they will be missed by fans and broadcast crews alike.

"Everybody would love to see the flowers, and we'd love to have them here," said Lance Barrow, the coordinating producer of CBS Sports, which is televising the Masters for the 57th year. "But we have no control over Mother Nature."

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Augusta National Golf Club: The Masters' Home Explained

Augusta National Golf Club is a familiar sight for golf fans as the home of The Masters. This week, the course will take center-stage again, so get reacquainted with one of the nation's best tracks.

Tiger Woods Says He 'Feels Great Physically' On Eve Of Masters Week

After battling injuries for most of the last two years, Tiger Woods told reporters that he doesn't expect to be bothered by any physical ailments in the 2012 Masters:

"Physically I'm fine, I feel great, no aches and pains," Woods, who walked off the course at the Cadillac Championship last month with an Achilles issue, told Masters.com.

"The whole idea is to get your game together and have it going the way you want at the time you want," he said. "There are four times a year (the four majors) you want to be playing your best, and this is one of them."

Since his infamous car accident in 2009 that began a tabloid circus around his personal life, Woods has dealt with knee and back injuries that have left the golfer a shell of his former dominant self.

However, Woods has never been the most forthcoming player with reporters, so it's hard to know whether his confident sounding statements are intended for the fans or his opponents.

Masters 2012: Dark Horses Adam Scott, Hunter Mahan Confident

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are golf's two biggest names and the two favorites at Augusta National this weekend, but the field at the 2012 Masters is filled with potential dark horses who have won big before and who look primed to have a great weekend. Two of those players are Hunter Mahan, who won the Shell Houston Open on Sunday, and Adam Scott, who has purposely played a low number of pre-Masters competitive tournaments.

Scott played sparingly heading into last year's Masters and played very well, finishing tied for second. He's only played a total of nine competitive rounds this year, but he's been practicing plenty and he went through a full practice round on Sunday at Augusta.

Said Scott:

"You don't have to compete to be ready to compete, you have to practice. I feel like I have to do enough that my game will hold up for four days of a major. I think I have to put in more work in the past to do that."

Mahan is also full of confidence after winning in Houston one week before the Masters. That victory was his second of the season; his first win came at the Accenture Match Play Championship. He's being pegged as a dark horse favorite because of his current form, and along with Scott, he'll be expected to challenge the likes of McIlroy and Woods all week.

For more, be sure to stay tuned to our 2012 Masters StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters Odds: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Still Favored As Masters Week Begins

While the lines for the 2012 Masters have been posted for over a week, little has changed up top, with Tiger Woods (4/1) and Rory McIlroy (5/1) the leading favorites to take home another green jacket according to Bovada.

The biggest jump has come from Hunter Mahan, who is now 25/1 after winning the Houston Shell Open on Sunday.

Between McIlroy and Mahan is a deep pool of talented golfers, led by Phil Mickelson (12/1), Lee Westwood (14/1) and Luke Donald (14/1).

Coming behind Mahan are Keegan Bradley (28/1), Justin Rose (30/1), Adam Scott (33/1) and Charl Schwartzel (32/1).

After the initial 10 golfers, the rest of the field starts coming in at 40/1, 60/1 and 125/1.

Of course, in a sport like golf, where an unlikely player can catch fire for two or three rounds, long shots aren't quite as long as they are in the team sports or even tennis, which forces underdogs to defeat top players in a 1-on-1 matchup.

Masters 2012 Preview: Tiger Woods Heads Back To Augusta As Favorite

Tiger Woods earned his first PGA Tour win in nearly three years two weeks ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the momentum from that victory and his past success at The Masters has helped install Woods as the betting favorite at the 2012 edition of golf's first major.

But Woods, the prohibitive favorite for a dozen or so iterations of The Masters, may have to fend off Rory McIlroy, the rising star whose final-round collapse at Augusta was the story of the tournament in 2011 and whose fantastic game could make him the golfing world's next dominant figure in the Woods mold.

And Woods and McIlroy will have to take on a typically unforgiving Augusta National course and outpace the rest of a deep field, too.

Here's the schedule for the 2012 The Masters.

2012 The Masters Schedule

Monday, April 2: Practice Round

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3: Practice Round

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 4: Practice Round and Par 3 Contest

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Par 3 Contest begins at approximately 12:30 p.m. (Live coverage on ESPN from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Thursday, April 5: First Round

Gates open at 7 a.m., gates close 30 minutes after play

Live coverage on ESPN from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 6: Second Round

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close 30 minutes after play

Live coverage on ESPN from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 7: Third Round

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close 30 minutes after play

Live coverage on CBS from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 8: Final Round

Gates open at 8 a.m., gates close 30 minutes after Presentation Ceremony

Live coverage on ESPN from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

2012 Masters Field Finalized: 92 Participants Will Hit The Links At Augusta

Now that the Shell Houston Open has wrapped up, the final field at the 2012 Masters Tournament is officially set. Of the 104 players that were invited, 92 will be participating this year at Augusta. The field is made up of past champions, winners of PGA Tour events prior, and those ranked in the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings the week before. Following his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods is a 7/2 favorite to take home the green jacket.

You can check out the full field below.

Aaron Baddeley (Australia)
Sang-moon Bae (Korea)
Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)
Keegan Bradley
Jonathan Byrd
Angel Cabrera (Argentina)
Patrick Cantlay
Paul Casey (England)
Kevin Chappell
K. J. Choi (Korea)
Stewart Cink
Tim Clark (South Africa)
Darren Clarke (N. Ireland)
Fred Couples
Ben Crane
Ben Crenshaw
Jason Day (Australia)
Luke Donald (England)
Jason Dufner
Simon Dyson (England)
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain)
Ross Fisher (England)
Rickie Fowler
Harrison Frazar
Jim Furyk
Sergio Garcia (Spain)
Robert Garrigus
Lucas Glover
Bill Haas
Anders Hansen (Denmark)
Peter Hanson (Sweden)
Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
Charles Howell III
Trevor Immelman (South Africa)
Ryo Ishikawa (Japan)
Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden)
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson
Robert Karlsson (Sweden)
Martin Kaymer (Germany)
Kyung-Tae Kim (Korea)
Kelly Kraft
Matt Kuchar

Martin Laird (Scotland)
Bernhard Langer (Germany)
Paul Lawrie (Scotland)
Randal Lewis
Sandy Lyle (Scotland)
Bryden Macpherson (Australia)
Hunter Mahan
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
Graeme McDowell (N. Ireland)
Rory McIlroy (N. Ireland)
Phil Mickelson
Corbin Mills
Larry Mize
Edoardo Molinari (Italy)
Francesco Molinari (Italy)
Kevin Na
Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)
Sean O'Hair
Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain)
Mark O'Meara
Louis Oosthuizen (S. Africa)
Ryan Palmer
Ian Poulter (England)
Alvaro Quiros (Spain)
Chez Reavie
Justin Rose (England)
Rory Sabbatini (South Africa)
Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
Adam Scott (Australia)
John Senden (Australia)
Webb Simpson
Vijay Singh (Fiji)
Brandt Snedeker
Craig Stadler
Scott Stallings
Kyle Stanley
Brendan Steele
Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
Steve Stricker
David Toms
Bo Van Pelt
Scott Verplank
Johnson Wagner
Nick Watney
Bubba Watson
Tom Watson
Mike Weir (Canada)
Lee Westwood (England)
Mark Wilson
Gary Woodland
Tiger Woods
Ian Woosnam (Wales)
Y. E. Yang (Korea)

For more on the 2012 Masters be sure to stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012, Qualifying: Ernie Els Has A Ways To Go To Make The Masters

The field for the 2012 Masters is nearly set, but there is still one last chance to qualify for the annual Tournament by winning the Shell Houston Open, which is currently in progress.

One notable player who could miss the Masters is long time pro Ernie Els. The only way Els can qualify is to win the Shell Houston open, but he's currently tied for 34th place at five-under. If Els misses out on the Masters, it will be the first time he's done so sine 1994.

As it stands right now, American Jeff Maggert holds the lead in the Shell Houston Open with a 12-under, with Brian Davis and Louis Oosthuizen right on his heels, both shooting an 11-under through the first two rounds of the tournament.

For more on the 2012 Masters be sure to stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on Golf in general check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room and SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

Masters 2012: Qualification Requirements For The Year's First Major

With one week to go until The Masters, here's a look at the qualification requirements for the year's first major.

Augusta National, Home Of The Masters, May Admit First Female Member

Tiger Woods Heavy Favorite To Win 2012 Masters After Bay Hill Victory

Not scared of tigers? Sportsbooks are in the wake of Tiger Woods' first PGA win in more than two years. His 2012 Masters odds were chopped in half and the money is still coming.