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                                  The Gog Blog is written by Rory Spears, Editor & Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

It’s a tradition unlike any other, The Masters. For many who enjoy golf, Masters week is the beginning of golf season. As professional golf heads into the first major of 2015, there are several questions to be answered, but will Augusta answer them all.

This year the Masters has several major story lines. No.1 is World No.1,Rory McIlroy ready to win at Augusta, and complete his career Grand Slam. Can he win his third straight major championship, and continue on his way to the Rory Slam. With a win McIlroy will put a choke hold on his No.1 ranking and it could be a while before anyone will be able to knock him off the top of the world.

Story Line No.2, are the young guns ready to win that first major. Rickie Fowler posted four top 5 finishes in the majors last year, but no W. Does he break through in 2015. Last year at the Master Jordan Spieth was right there on Sunday, but not at the end of Sunday. Can he hold on this time around. A few other veterans are looking for major No.1. Steve Stricker in his first tournament back after a surgery last fall, is not ready to win yet, but it’s nice to see him playing again. I hope he is ready to make a run at John Deere and the PGA at Whistling Straits.

Jimmy Walker is really coming into his own, Walker might be ready to be in the thick of the race, but is he ready to win at Augusta. Maybe he is another year away. If Ian Poulter ever puts in a major like he does in Ryder Cups, he will blow away the field. But this is not that week, Poulter should be ready at St. Andrews.

Some veterans who play well at Augusta should be lurking around the scoreboard. Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, and Zach Johnson. What about Dustin Johnson, is he ready yet, he has the power game to tame Augusta.

Then there is Phil Mickelson, is he back. Did Houston get him ready to win his 4th green jacket this week. It’s likely “Lefty” will have a great round and play himself into contention, but can he sustain it. Probably not, but let’s hope he can pull off the career Grand Slam at the U.S. Open.

Last but not least, is Tiger Woods. Woods hasn’t played tournament golf in weeks. While he might play better than he did earlier this year, it’s not likely he will win. What’s worth watching is how much time the TV networks give him. If it’s too much, the viewers will be up in arms and blasting CBS in the social media. No golfer in history has ever had more golf fans cheering against him than Woods.

It’s said Tiger moves the needle, he does. But these days  the question is, which way is he moving it. Even Las Vegas got smart after there was little or no betting action on Woods, they made him 30 to 35-1 in some sports books. Even that hasn’t had the smart betters lining up to put down their bucks on “Mr. Suckerbet.” Woods hasn’t won the Masters in the last nine years, by Sunday night (or maybe Friday night) it will be Ten years.

Can Bubba win again ? He can, his game is perfect for Augusta but it’s hard to defend at Augusta. Three green jackets in four years is no easy feat. But expect Watson to be on the leaderboard, even if he is not in the final group when the back nine on Sunday begins.

Who do I like to win, hard to say at this point. I’ll have a better idea on Wednesday.

With the Masters on the tee this week, it’s like the arrival of summer golf season is finally here in the Windy City. It’s about time, seems like it has been a long winter.

I would like to thank Charles Sims and Links & Tee’s, Kristy Vik at the Buffalo Grove Golf and Sports Center, and Gregg Tengerstrom at the Tinley Park Golf Expo, for their support of this site over the winter months.

Golfers on Golf Radio is coming soon, more details as they emerge. Go Play spring is in the air. RS