Now that Tiger Woods has returned to something approaching his former glories ahead of the US Masters, everyone knows who the best American golfer is again. Three wins from just five starts on the PGA Tour and the transatlantic snaffling of the World No.1 ranking from Rory McIlroy have made such a conclusion academic.
However, it's a season where US golfers have swept the board stateside with 14 victories from as many events. Where was such steely individual determination to finish off the job in the Ryder Cup Singles, you might ask? Well, whatever they've put in the water supply recently, the stars in the stripes are cleaning up this term. So if Tiger's the leader of the pack, who's the second best?
Let's have a look at the likely lads as they bid to extend the streak in Texas, Augusta and beyond.
Brandt Snedeker (current Masters odds 38.037/1): officially the hottest player on the planet before Tiger's reawakening. Unfortunately for Sneds, Woods' renaissance more or less coincided with his own rib injury, which put him on the sidelines for a month. Since his return, the man who recorded two victories and four other top-three finishes in his last nine official events has struggled to make an impact with consecutive missed cuts. Last year's Fedex Cup winner putts like a man possessed when he's in the groove, though, and has some form at Augusta, where his silky smooth stroke is regularly rewarded on linoleum-like surfaces. Long term, however, the suspicion resides that his ball-striking is a rung short of the top tier.
Phil Mickelson (current Masters odds 13.525/2): doomed to play Salieri to Tiger's Mozart among the modern generation. Still, you shouldn't feel too sorry for Phil, who has also turned prolific tournament-winning into multiple majors. Four in the latter category and 41 in the former, Lefty is easily the most accomplished statesider aside from Woods. He has also won in 10 successive seasons (the longest active streak on tour), adding the Phoenix Open to his list of accolades this term. At 43 and fighting arthritis, you could argue that his best days are behind him, but modern equipment and treatment techniques gives Mickelson a shot every week he tees it up. Augusta, where the thrice-jacketed Phil has an even better record than Woods, remains his most likely stomping ground.
Dustin Johnson (current Masters odds 38.037/1): a younger statesman who issued a timely reminder of his talents when lifting the season-opener in Maui. Since then, DJ has blown hot and cold, but appeared to be peaking again in Houston where he closed with a Sunday best 65. And it would've been even lower but for him flushing two irons over the flag and into trouble on his back nine. Perhaps the most mercurial talent on tour, his prodigious distance and streaky putter make him unbeatable when the planets align. They do occasionally, but it's an event closer in frequency to Halley's Comet than a circle of the sun.
Bubba Watson (current Masters odds 44.043/1): another possessed of pure power and bullseye putting who can make the game appear ridiculously easy. His signature shot from the pine needles on the 10th made him an instant Augusta National hero but he has not won since. Two top-tens this term have hinted at sleeping giant status, though, and when he's on he's always in contention.
Jason Dufner (current Masters odds 85.084/1): at last a more consistent commodity. But even Dufner's trademark unflappability (see "Dufnering" for Twitter trending) and bankability have been called in to question recently with two missed cuts this campaign. Before that, however, the Dufman hadn't finished outside the Top 30 of any event - let alone MC-ed - since last July. He has also become one of the top performers in the majors (halfway leader at the Masters, fourth at the US Open before contending again at both the Open and the PGA). A 12th place at the latest WGC showcased more imperious ball-striking from a player who generally remains on an upward curve. His time is now and it may endure for a while to come.
Matt Kuchar (current Masters odds 38.037/1): while you're never quite sure what to expect from most of these major champions-in-waiting, Kuchar comes closer to the dependability of a black labrador. He has the goofy smile to match too. So it's strange to recall that despite a storied amateur career, Kuch took his time to make an impact on the pro stage, considering trading it in for a desk job. Wins at the Players and the WGC Matchplay, allied to a repeating swing, have since pulled up a chair at golf's top table and his experience is always an asset when the pressure ramps.
Rickie Fowler (current Masters odds 70.069/1): perhaps spent too long luxuriating in the shade of the likes of Watson and Webb Simpson, but Rickie is just not the shy retiring type. Finally proved his worth with that breakthrough triumph last season. The harder the course and the conditions the better for this pure ball-striker, who is not afraid to gamble to win. He is also over a niggling back problem, so the year ahead should be a rosy one.
Keegan Bradley (current Masters odds 34.033/1): is both a recent major and WGC winner with an uncanny knack of making big putts at the right time. However, despite some bombing off the tee, his irons lack the finesse of his finer contemporaries, while his trusty belly putter could soon be rendered obsolete by the powers-that-be. In spite of his early promise, expect Bradley to be lapped in time by peers such as Nick Watney and Hunter Mahan.
Steve Stricker (current Masters odds 75.074/1): two runner-up berths from four events this season belie a man who is ostensibly winding down his golf career. Strick intends to embrace partial retirement this year, spending more time at home, dropping the kids off at school and becalming a flaring sciatic nerve. Consequently, we will see less of him but the ability to stay fresh and pick his schedule makes him a dangerous floater - albeit one that should be avoided at cramped quotes.