2013 Masters Blog: last year's form players

Robin Barwick gives his next Masters blog installment from Augusta National

Graeme McDowell

The world's best golfers devote their careers to finding the secret formula to enable them to unfurl their Sunday best golf during four weeks of the year in particular. They experiment with different strategies: play more in the build-up to the majors; or for some, play less. Take two months off over the winter; or move to Florida and play more. Drink beetroot juice for breakfast...

On the eve of the year's first major, here are the golfers who brought at least a semblance of form to all four majors in 2012.

How many golfers do you think made the cut in all four majors in 2012? Painstaking research reveals only 10 golfers played the weekends in all four majors last year. Here they are in order of best average position:

1. Graeme McDowell (N. Ire) 7.5

2. Adam Scott (Aus) 9

3. Ian Poulter (Eng) 15

4. Padraig Harrington (Ire) 17.25

5. Tiger Woods (USA) 18.75

6. Jason Dufner (USA) 21.5

7. Jim Furyk (USA) 22.75

8. Steve Stricker (USA) 23

9. Keegan Bradley (USA) 33

10. Zach Johnson (USA) 38

There are surprises on the list and off. Who would have thought Padraig Harrington would be ranked fourth? Notable absentees include Rory McIlroy, who was defending champ at the US Open only to miss the cut, while Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker and Dustin Johnson all missed at least one major cut last year. Open champion Ernie Els failed to qualify for the Masters last April.

Graeme McDowell, ranked 17th in the world going into the 2013 Masters, was as impressive as a golfer can be in the majors last year, without actually winning one. The 2010 US Open champ finished Tied-12th in the Masters, runner-up in the US Open, tied-fifth in the Open at Royal Lytham, and then tied-11th in the PGA Championship.

Robin Barwick travelled to the 2013 Masters with Mercedes-Benz, International Partner of the Masters Tournament

Freelance Writer

Robin has worked for Golf Monthly for over a decade.