It's Masters Week. The cream always rise...

I made one big mistake last week... I sat Stuart Appleby on the bench. I did that because he's been struggling miserably this year (in my estimation). Of course, last year he had won the Houston Shell Open... but then, he'd also had a better run up.

This week, he's playing.

My Masters lineup:

Stuart Appleby has made the cut every year since he missed it in 2002. He's still riding my bench... and here's why.

Steve Stricker is hungry. He has a lot to prove as this is his first return trip to The Masters since 2002.

Charles Howell III is a "homey". He didn't do particularly well last year, feeling way too much pressure. This year he knows how to win. He's playing with tons of confidence in his hometown on a course he's played many times.

Geoff Ogilvy is leading the Aussies as the 2006 US Open winner. I like his chances. Last year, as a "Masters rookie" he played to a T16.

I'm gambling with Henrik Stenson. He's an unkown aside from missing the cut last year. I like the way he's been playing this year. His stats aren't particularly reliable as they cover too few tournaments... let's just call him a really "dark horse".

One final thought:

We're now entering the middle "third" of the season. The longer the season, the more difficult to make points moves. My team is currently in second place, six points out of first. For me to move to first, the team in front will have to stumble, and my team will have to play way above average.

Let The Masters be a positive for my team.