It is the Mecca for all golf lovers. Tucked away near the border of Georgia and South Carolina lies an 18 hole stretch where PGA Tour dreams have become reality or where they have come crashing back down to earth. Early April means one thing in the golf world – the Masters.
Augusta National Golf Course is set to host the first major of the year this weekend, where the winner will be bestowed the green jacket, a tradition that dates back to the early 1930s.
With a talented field of golfers set and rain in the forecast, who will be the next golfer to slip his arms into this coveted jacket?
Tiger Woods is arguably the most followed golfer at any major, as he chases Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories. Woods has been stuck at 14 major wins since his last U.S. Open championship in 2008.
However, with his fading talent and multiple injuries, Woods would be an underdog to win in 2015. The course no longer fits Tiger Woods’ style of play.
Augusta National fits Bubba Watson, probably just as good as the two green jackets he won in the past three years at the Masters. 
From his power-fade drives to his towering wedge shots, the rolling hills at Augusta do not play the enemy to Bubba. It would not surprise the PGA if Watson were to win his third title and be the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001.
Another name on the leaderboard that would not surprise anyone would be the world’s No. 1 ranked golfer at the moment, Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy looks to become only the sixth golfer in history to win the coveted Grand Slam in golf (winning the U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Tour Championship and the Masters in a career). Last year, only one bad hole at Augusta stood in the way of this feat, but don’t expect McIlroy to make the same mistake this year.
Never forget the crazy lefty in the field, Phil Mickelson. 
Mickelson’s game is a lot like Watson’s, where power and short game combine as the perfect weapon to win. He has already won three times at Augusta, and if his game is on, look for him at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday. However, if his game is off, he will be in danger of missing the cut.
Jason Day is a favorite to win this week, even though people would still be surprised to see it happen. But why? The Australian is ranked fifth in the world and with only 16 attempts at a major, he has recorded five top-10 finishes.
Fellow Australian Adam Scott is another who is not fazed by the challenges  Augusta brings. His victory in 2013 was not short of amazing as he fought his way through the field and came up clutch on the 18th hole and during the playoff round. 
Who is my pick to win the 2015 Masters Tournament? Jordan Spieth.
The youngster is primed for the spotlight this year, and even though many experts think he would benefit from a few more trips to Augusta, I think he starts off strong and plays himself into contention. 
The x-factor I am going with is the rain in the forecast. The rain will make the course, which is usually fast as lightning, one that could be mushy and slow at some parts. Experienced golfers know how to handle the situation, and this is where people expect Spieth to struggle.
My prediction is the exact opposite. The young golfer is naïve enough not to get caught up in the atmosphere and just play golf. As others fall away, Spieth will remain strong at the top. If he can pull it all together on Sunday, Spieth will take home his first green jacket.
After the opening round of the Masters, Spieth tallied  a mark of eight under par, good for first place.  
Second round coverage of the tournament begins at 2 p.m. on ESPN.  The third and fourth rounds will be on CBS.