The Masters is quite simply the most important golf tournament in the world. Given the particularly harsh winter many of you are recovering from and the plethora of great story lines surrounding this event, the electricity and buzz at Augusta National is phenomenal. As I sit here on Monday night contemplating the many hours ahead on the Golf Channel in the next few days, three names keep popping into my head: Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.

Like it or not, Tiger Woods return after a self imposed absence from competitive golf, is and will continue to be the biggest story of the week so far at The Masters. Many, expect Tiger’s short game woes to continue and his performance to be a flop. Not me. I believe he will show that things are turning in the right direction for him. And while he probably won’t win The Masters, I do expect him to make the cut and show some signs of the old brilliance.

Watching Jordan Spieth very closely during the last six weeks of our NBC Golf run has instilled in me a tremendous amount of respect for him, not just as a golfer….but as a human being. Jordan is wise and mature far beyond his years. He also happens to be the best putter in the game right now. After his close call at The Masters last year, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him don the Green Jacket on Sunday night.

The world’s number one player, Rory McIlroy has a chance to complete the career grand slam at Augusta this week. And with Tiger diverting so much of the media attention right now, Rory is actually flying a little under the radar early in the week….which I believe is a benefit for him. Also, the forecast is for considerable rain throughout the week, and softer conditions would be to his liking…remember what he did at the 2011 US Open at Congressional.

My three favorites right now for The Masters: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day