By Mark Soltau
SportsLine Senior Writer

It could have happened last year, but Mark O'Meara ran the table. Only a costly three-putt at 16 kept David Duval out of a playoff.

Duval is ready to avenge 1998. (Allsport)

This year, Duval returns to Augusta National with a vengeance, eager to atone. As he showed at The Players Championship and the BellSouth Classic, his game is sharp and he's peaking at just the right time. Unless Tiger Woods goes off, which he is perfectly capable of doing, the only person who can beat David Duval is David Duval.

The biggest difference will be added pressure and how he deals with it. He's now the world's top-ranked player, an enviable position that brings fame, fortune and added expectations. Given his grounded, low-key personality, Duval shouldn't have much trouble. But, it might take a little getting used to ... say, a week to 10 days.

When Duval is clicking on all cylinders, as he has been the last 18 months, he's almost unstoppable. He lapped the field at the Mercedes Championships, came from nowhere to win the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with a final-round 59, sealed The Players with a birdie at the treacherous par-3 17th and won the BellSouth Classic with an incredible chip as the rest of the field folded.

Quietly, Duval has been eyeing Augusta for months, waiting to pounce. He blew his cover by winning The Players, but it didn't matter. Most had already made him their Masters frontrunner in the office pools long ago.

With Duval, it isn't a question of whether he will win a major championship -- something that can't be said of Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie, it's when. The time is now.

Favorites

Tiger Woods
Best finish: 1st in 1997
Comment: Would love to have Mark O'Meara put the green jacket on him.
Odds: 10-1

Fred Couples
Best finish: 1st in 1992
Comment: If back holds up, he should be in the hunt on Sunday afternoon.
Odds: 15-1

Ernie Els
Best finish: T-8th in 1994
Comment: Sweet swing, great temperament and overdue to make a serious run.
Odds: 15-1

Justin Leonard
Best finish: T-7th in 1997
Comment: Heady player has shots, experience and patience to come up big
Odds: 20-1

Mark O'Meara
Best finish: 1st in 1998
Comment: The secret is out: he's a fabulous putter and seldom beats himself.
Odds: 20-1

Phil Mickelson
Best finish: 3rd in 1996
Comment: Should be a good fit, but must keep it together for four rounds.
Odds: 20-1

Colin Montgomerie
Best finish: T-8th in 1998
Comment: Always appears tortured, but bound to have a breakthrough.
Odds: 25-1

Steve Elkington
Best finish: T-3rd in 1993
Comment: Good frontrunner; his swing is the envy of the PGA Tour.
Odds: 25-1

Davis Love III
Best finish: 2nd in 1995
Comment: Already owns one major championship and knows what it takes.
Odds: 25-1

Contenders

Greg Norman
Best finish: 2nd in 1986, 1987 and 1996
Comment: Still showing signs of rust, but would look great in green.
Odds: 30-1

John Huston
Best finish: T-3rd in 1990
Comment: Streaky, makes boatloads of birdies and won't back off.
Odds: 30-1

Ian Woosnam
Best finish: 1st in 1991
Comment: Despite wild drives and suspect putter, he's done it before.
Odds: 30-1

Scott Hoch
Best finish: T-2nd in 1994
Comment: Hits it pure, but must conquer battle between the ears
Odds: 30-1

Mark Calcavecchia
Best finish: 2nd in 1988
Comment: Has talent, touch and length to tame any course, even Augusta.
Odds: 35-1

Jim Furyk
Best finish: 4th in 1998
Comment: Off to a slow start, but made strong run a year ago.
Odds: 35-1

Tom Lehman
Best finish: 2nd in 1994
Comment: Near-miss at Bay Hill made right shoulder feel a lot better
Odds: 35-1

Lee Westwood
Best finish: T-24th in 1997
Comment: Still learning the course and trying to get comfortable
Odds: 35-1

Jeff Maggert
Best finish: T-7th in 1996
Comment: Excellent putter and should have confidence after Match Play win.
Odds: 40-1

Longshots

Paul Azinger
Best finish: 5th in 1998
Comment: Norman aside, would be the feel-good story of the week.
Odds: 45-1

Jeff Sluman
Best finish: T-4th in 1992
Comment: Sneaky-long and already has one victory this season.
Odds: 50-1

Lee Janzen
Best finish: T-12th in 1995 and 1996
Comment: Has the whole package and knows how to bear down.
Odds: 50-1

Payne Stewart
Best finish: T-8th in 1986.
Comment: Hasn't played since 1996 and wants to show he belongs.
Odds: 50-1

Stewart Cink
Best finish: T-23rd in 1998
Comment: Tough young player will have home state pulling for him.
Odds: 60-1

Jesper Parnevik
Best finish: T-21st in 1997
Comment: Forget the hat jokes ... his game is no laughing matter.
Odds: 60-1

Vijay Singh
Best finish: T-7th in 1997
Comment: Not his best venue, but as PGA proved, he's got major talent.
Odds: 75-1

Shigeki Maruyama
Best finish: Missed cut in 1998
Comment: Hero of Presidents Cup and also played well at the Match Play.
Odds: 100-1

Nick Faldo
Best finish: 1st in 1989, 1990 and 1996
Comment: Has missed cut last two years and still struggling to find his game.
Odds: 100-1

Editor's note: CBS SportsLine senior editor Mark Soltau is a regular contributor to GolfWeb.