BY BRENDAN JAMES at Augusta National

At 9.45 on Thursday night (Australian Eastern Standard Time) the first players in a field of 97 competing in the 2014 Masters will be called to the 1st tee.

For the first time since 2004 the man who owns the top-spot in the world ranking, at least until Sunday night, won’t be playing. Tiger Woods will be watching the Masters at home after undergoing back surgery to repair a bulging disc. His absence has, in the opinion of many, opened this Masters right up.

Has there ever been a ‘wide open’ Masters? Don’t forget Woods has not won at Augusta since 2005, so for the past nine years, he’s been a favourite and not got the job done.

For mine, picking the winner of the Masters is much like reading the form for the Melbourne Cup – there are several chances that standout from the crowd and there are others in the field that simply are making up the numbers.

Rory McIlroy, who has been listed as the bookies favourite, subscribes to the ‘wide open’ theory. “I would say 70,” said McIlroy, when asked how many players have a genuine shot at the title. “You've got a lot of guys that can win, a lot of guys that have won PGA Tour events.”

Phil Mickelson, at 43, is searching for his fourth Masters and his sixth major title. He says the field of legitimate contenders trims to “less than a dozen” as the course becomes more difficult during the tournament.

“If the course plays firm and fast conditions, I think you're looking at less than a dozen,” he said. The weather forecast for Augusta suggests that’s exactly what will happen to the course.

Adam Scott tees off at the 12th hole during a practice round on Wednesday. PHOTO: Getty Images

Golf Australia editor Brendan James has been on the ground at Augusta National this week during practice and he has narrowed his choices down to a top-8 who will contend for the Green Jacket on Sunday afternoon.

1. ADAM SCOTT

Only three players in the history of the Masters – Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods – have successfully defended at Augusta. History might be stacked against the Queenslander, but he has by far the best record of any player in major championships for the past two years.

His Masters game plan earned him the Green Jacket in 2013 and there is absolutely no reason why it can’t again in 2014. His game from tee-to-green remains one of the best in the game. If his putter comes along for the rise this week, he’ll get to wear his Green Jacket for another year and he’ll leave Augusta the World No.1.

The 33-year-old has relished his time as the Masters Champion, which is one of the big motivating factors for him to work hard and try and win again.

2. RORY MCILROY

The Northern Irishman had a 2013 to forget but his last hole victory over Scott to win the Australian Open in December gave him the belief that his game was turning around. So far in 2014, he’s had three top-10 finishes, including last week at Houston where he shot the low final round score of 65 in wet conditions.

Rory McIlroy is more determined than ever to bury the Masters demons of 2011. PHOTO: Getty Images

He knows he threw away a chance to win the Masters in 2011 and he has confessed this week that he doesn’t want to be one of those players who have won major championships but never won the Masters. That fear of not winning at Augusta is driving young Rory but we all saw what that kind of motivation did for Greg Norman.

Rory will be a factor this week, especially if can continue to improve with the driver.

3. PHIL MICKELSON

There was nothing to suggest in his play at the Houston Open last week, where he finished tied 12th, that the three-time Masters Champion can make it four this week.

The 43-year-old admits this year’s Masters preparation has not been as good as other years, simply because he likes to have had a win under his belt before reaching Augusta. His best performance thus far in 2014 came in Houston.

Phil Mickelson's game lifts a cog or two the moment he drives down Augusta's Magnolia Lane. PHOTO: Getty Images

From what I have seen of him on the range and in practice rounds during the past three days his ball-striking has been good without being impressive.

But if there is one thing you can be sure of he will find a way to post a score each day. Augusta sets up well for the left-handed Mickelson because his misses usually finish in spots where he can still get up-and-down. He hasn’t missed a cut in 16 consecutive visits to Augusta and he’s won three of the past ten Green Jackets so he can’t be discounted.

4. JASON DAY

No player in Masters history can boast such an impressive early record at Augusta. Jason Day has only played in three Masters and was tied 2nd in 2011 and third behind Adam Scott last year. In 2012, he was forced to withdraw a few holes into the first round with an ankle injury.

This year the focus has been on a thumb injury he suffered en route to winning the WGC Accenture World Matchplay in February. The ligament strain in his left thumb has been treated with cortisone and there was certainly no suggestion of pain in the thumb as hit balls on the range yesterday and today.

During his Tuesday practice round he didn’t hold back, especially with his driver, and at no stage did he look like had any discomfort, which points to Day being ready and raring to go.

The only concern might be his lack of strokeplay competition but he’ll quickly get into the swing of things when the first round gets underway.

5. MATT KUCHAR

The Georgia local is probably sick and tired of Australians by now, having been overrun by Adam Scott at last year’s Australian Masters, then Steven Bowditch reeled him in at Valero Texas Open two weeks back. On Sunday, Matt Jones holed a lengthy chip shot to beat him in the Houston Open.

Matt Kuchar has seemingly lost the ability to close out a tournament but he will still be in the mix at Augusta this week. PHOTO: Getty Images

More than anything this highlights the one problem Kuchar seems to have and that’s closing out tournaments. In fact, in his last four PGA Tour starts Kuchar’s final round scoring average is an abysmal 73.75.

But he has learned how to play Augusta and his top-5 finishes in two of the past three years are testimony to that. He is, generally, a mistake free golfer who hits plenty of fairways and greens and from inside 50 yards of the putting surface he will find a way to get the ball close.

There will be plenty of support in the crowd for ‘Koooooch’ this week and it might help to get him over the line for his first major victory.

6. DUSTIN JOHNSON

Johnson was born just down the road from Augusta in Columbia, South Carolina, and as an amateur he got the opportunity to play the course several times.

The 29-year-old has a game tailor-made to win at Augusta but his record here, thus far, has been less than impressive with his best finish being a tie for 13th last year. His prodigious hitting should be his major weapon here but has had problems finding the fairway here in his four Masters starts.

That said, I followed him for most of his practice round on Tuesday and he missed one fairway with his driver in hand. On the par-5 13th, he took a conservative line with his driver and was left with a 6-iron into the green. If he can go deep under par on the par-5s this week he could almost steal the Green Jacket.

7. SERGIO GARCIA

For mine, Sergio Garcia is the best player in the world without a major win. He’s playing in his 16th straight Masters for just three top-10 finishes. One of those came last year, when he led after 18 holes with an opening 66.

But if there is one player in the field this week who is riding a wave of good form it’s the Spaniard. He’s had four top-10s in six starts on the PGA Tour this year and has a scoring average of 69.6 through those events.

The key to this improvement can be attributed to greater confidence in his putting and that has taken a significant amount of pressure off his tee to green game.

If Sergio wins this week it would be one of the great Masters stories.

8. MARC LEISHMAN

Marc Leishman came of age in 2013, finishing fourth at the Masters and recording three further top-10s on the PGA Tour.

His recent form, since losing to Sergio Garcia in round one of the WGC World Matchplay Championship, has not been exceptional but his early season results were terrific with a fifth an tied second in consecutive weeks in February.

Marc Leishman could the quiet achiever of the Masters. He has looked good in practice the past few days. PHOTO: Getty Images

Leishman, who is making his third trip to Augusta, was carried along a steep learning curve at the Masters last year. He led after round one with Garcia, and was still in the top-4 through 54 holes. Playing with Adam Scott in the final round, Leishman had his own chances to win but it wasn’t to be. Heading into this campaign he will be able to draw on the experience of being there to witness how to win a Masters. He will have learned from his mistakes from last year and I’m tipping the boy from Warrnambool to have a presence on the leaderboard throughout this tournament.