US Masters / Paul Krishnamurty / 07 April 2012 /

An intriguing Masters leaderboard awaits us this morning with any one of 30 players in with a chance of winning the tournament. Saturday is traditionally classed as moving day so who does Paul Krishnamurty expect to be rising up the leaderboard today? Find out with his three-ball tips here

Thirty players, including ten major champions and some of the very best never to win one, within five shots of the lead. Who could ask for more going into 'Moving Day' at the Masters?

As those numbers suggest, the season's first major remains wide-open and with a fast-changing leaderboard almost certain over the weekend, we look set for a repeat of last year's in-running trading heaven.

Besides the notable exceptions of Tiger Woods and Luke Donald, most of the pre-tournament principals are still right in the thick of it. That includes all of the big-priced trio suggested yesterday and most excitingly, my earlier [280.0] pick Fred Couples, who shares the lead.

With none of my bets hitting their lay targets yet, I've got plenty to cheer on today and no need to add more in the outright market, so instead, this morning's focus is on the following five two-balls.

5u Patrick Cantlay @ [2.6] (vs Bjorn) (Starts 14.35)
Motivation and mindset are always significant angles to consider when assessing those further down the leaderboard, out of contention. Although I'm sure Thomas Bjorn is pleased to be here for the weekend, there's no reason why he should be particularly enthusiastic about it. He isn't going to win or transform his career with a big pay cheque and has never shown much of a liking for Augusta anyway, missing half his previous eight cuts and never bettering 18th.

In total contrast, brilliant amateur Patrick Cantlay still has the top amateur prize to play for and is bound to remain enthusiastic about his Masters debut. The wheels came off on yesterday's back-nine, but he did enough on Thursday and in last year's US Open to show he has what it takes to play a major venue.

5u Tiger Woods @ [1.86] (vs Schwartzel) (Starts 15.45)
After yesterday's miserable round blunted much of the optimism fuelled by his victory at Bay Hill, today's round offers the perfect chance to judge whether Tiger Woods really is 'back' or not. The old Tiger would almost certainly have bounced back with a low round to get into contention. That sort of tenacity has enabled Woods to finish no worse than sixth in the last seven Masters, despite often being well below his best. With all due respect to defending champ Schwartzel, given Tiger's Augusta record, [1.86] is simply too big an over-reaction to one bad round.

4u Brandt Snedeker @ [2.32] (vs McDowell) (Starts 16.15)
Graeme McDowell fell away poorly last weekend at Houston and given his continuing failure to perform well at Augusta, again looks worth opposing. Out of 12 rounds here, he's only beaten par three times. Snedeker on the other hand has shot under par six times in 12 professional rounds and even his over-par efforts may be better than the bare numbers suggest. He was in contention last year before a quadruple-bogey ruined his challenge and had two doubles during yesterday's 75. It will be no surprise to see him bounce back over the weekend and add to an impressive tally of eight top-25s in 13 professional attempts in US majors.

4u Nick Watney @ [1.81] (vs Stenson) (Starts 18.25)
While Henrik Stenson deserves much credit for hitting back with an under-par round following Thursday's 18th hole calamity, he remains erratic by his own admission and gives the impression of a man who's done his best work already in this tournament. Alternatively, emerging course specialist Nick Watney crept further up the leaderboard yesterday and is strongly fancied to contend over the weekend. Until only a few weeks ago, Watney would have been an overwhelming strong favourite for this match and perhaps that should still be the case.

6u Phil Mickelson @ [1.6] (vs Singh) (Starts 18.45)
Not so long ago when they were both amongst the game's elite, these two were regularly paired together or battling one another almost every year in the Masters. However given the latter's demise compared to Phil's status as pre-tournament third favourite, this could be the day's banker. I can't help think Vijay has performed well as a consequence of the rain-softened greens and if the course dries out, his putting will be exposed. In contrast Mickelson, who was outstanding yesterday, looks well on course to at least add another top-ten having made 11 of the last 13 at Augusta.

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