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9 players with the most at stake at Augusta

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Although the PGA Tour season has been in full swing for months, most people circle this week at Augusta National as the true start to the year.

Winning the green jacket is already an accomplishment, but for a number of players in the field, there's plenty more than just a new piece of clothing and the tentative $1.98-million prize on the line.

Here are nine guys who have the most at stake in this year's event.

Tiger Woods: 5th green jacket

Woods teased us with runs at both the Open Championship and PGA Championship last year, but it's Augusta National where we all want to see the legend win again. The four-time champion could get one step closer to Jack Nicklaus' record of six Masters titles and get within three of his all-time mark of 18 majors with a victory.

Rory McIlroy: Career Grand Slam

The Masters is the one event needed for the Northern Irishman's career Grand Slam. A win would put McIlroy on a list that only features Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen. With five straight top-10 finishes at Augusta and seven consecutive top-nine finishes on Tour this season, this could be Rory's year.

Jordan Spieth: Continue Masters dominance

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You almost need to do a double take when looking at Spieth's record in five starts at Augusta - he's earned a green jacket and four top-three finishes, with a tie for 11th his "worst" showing. So why is he flying under the radar entering this year's event? Somehow, the talented Texan hasn't posted a top-25 finish since September of last year. It's probably a safe bet that streak ends at Augusta.

Dustin Johnson: 2nd career major

It seems unbelievable a man of Johnson's talents only has one career major title, but that's where we stand heading into Augusta this year. The 34-year-old has finished in the top 10 at the Masters in each of his last three starts, and once again comes in showing strong form after a win at the WGC-Mexico earlier this year.

Brooks Koepka: 4th major in last 7 starts

When Koepka walks to the first tee at a major, the rest of the field is beginning to realize they are playing for second. While that statement may be a tad strong, it's trending in that direction. With three wins in his last six majors, Koepka is evidently on a historical tear. If he wins his fourth major title this week, he will have accomplished something over a seven-event stretch that just 28 men have done in their career.

Rickie Fowler: 1st career major

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The quest for Fowler's first major title almost ended at Augusta National last year, but Patrick Reed did just enough to keep the 30-year-old out of the green jacket. Fowler now has four top-12 finishes in his last five starts at the Masters and already has a win under his belt this season at the Phoenix Open.

Phil Mickelson: 4th green jacket

With a victory at Augusta, Mickelson would join Nicklaus, Woods, and Arnold Palmer as the only men to capture four green jackets. He would also snag his sixth major title, a distinction only 13 other men have achieved.

Patrick Reed: Repeat champ

Last year's winner has the chance to become just the fourth player ever to repeat at the Masters. That would put him on an elite list alongside Woods, Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo. It would be a shock if he's able to do so, as the fiery American has just one top-10 finish in 18 stroke-play events on the PGA Tour since placing fourth at the U.S. Open last year.

Bubba Watson: 3rd Masters title

It seems fitting a man named Bubba has adopted the Ricky Bobby approach from "Talladega Nights" at the Masters. "If you ain't first, you're last" is a fairly accurate way to describe Watson's results at Augusta. Other than his two wins on this track, Watson's fifth-place showing last year was the only other time he'd finished inside the top 15 in 10 trips to the event. A win this year would put Watson on a list with just nine other players who have won three career Masters.

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