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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A quick stroll across the manicured landscape of Augusta National afforded a glimpse of why this Masters is so hard to figure out. On the putting green in a quiet moment of practice was 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, one of a record 24 newcomers who has every reason to believe he can win. On the golf course for the final day of practice was Webb Simpson, a former U.S. Open champion and one of 21 players who have captured the last 24 majors. And under the oak tree outside the clubhouse was Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 50-year-old Spaniard trying to make sense of it all. He recalled his first Masters in 1995, when Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal shared secrets to Augusta National, such as keeping the ball in the right spots on the green and "to realize here that the target is not the hole." "The more you play, the more you like, no?" Jimenez said as he leaned against his golf bag, looking relaxed as ever behind his aviator sunglasses. But as he considered the rookies -- Spieth and Patrick Reed, Harris English and Jimmy Walker -- he dismissed the notion that experience was required for a green jacket. "There are 24 guys here for the first time," he said. "But theres a reason they are here, no?" Nowhere to be found, of course, was Tiger Woods. Out of golf until the summer because of back surgery, out of the Masters for the first time in his career, the show goes on. "Well, we miss Tiger, as does the entire golf world," Masters chairman Billy Payne said. "He is always a threat to make a run and do well and win here at Augusta National. ... Nevertheless, this is the Masters. This is what we hope is the best tournament in the world, one of the greatest sporting events. And I think we will have a very impressive audience and have another great champion to crown this year." The course closed for practice Wednesday afternoon, and a stream of fans made their way over to the Par 3 Tournament, where occasional cheers broke the silence. It was a precursor of what was sure to follow over the next four days at a major that rarely fails to deliver drama. Even without Woods. "Its probably the most anticipated week of the year," Rory McIlroy said. "Its been eight months since weve had a major. Its Augusta. ... Theres a lot of guys that seem like once they drive up Magnolia Lane here, something lights up inside them." That could be Phil Mickelson, who last year won the British Open at age 42 and now has a chance to join Woods and Arnold Palmer with a fourth green jacket. It could be Adam Scott, trying to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only back-to-back winners. Considering how this year has gone, it could be anybody. Jason Day, Sergio Garcia and former Masters champion Zach Johnson are the only players from the top 10 who have won anywhere in the world. Only one of the last seven winners on the PGA Tour was ranked in the top 75. "I think if youre outside the top 50 in the world this week, youve got a great chance," U.S. Open champion Justin Rose said with a laugh. Rose, however, falls on the side of experience -- knowing where to miss, knowing where you cant afford to miss, where the hole locations tend to be on the contoured greens and using the slope to get the ball close. "Always you can have the unknowns," he said. "But I would say 15 guys are pretty strong favourites." Woods has become a polarizing figure in golf, especially at the Masters. Since he last won a green jacket in 2005, only once has Woods finished out of the top six. Thats what made him so compelling at Augusta. He always seems to be there. And thats why this Masters seems to lack definition. No one is dominating golf at the moment. Walker has the most PGA Tour wins (three) this season, but this is his first Masters. Scott had a chance to go to No. 1 in the world three weeks ago at Bay Hill, but he lost a three-shot lead in the final round to Matt Every, who had never won in his career. Never has there been this much chatter about Masters rookies. Then again, there has never been this many. And theyre not bashful about their chances. "Doesnt matter if youve played here once or if youve played here 50 times," Reed said. "When it comes down to it, its just going to be that whoever is playing the best is going to walk away with the trophy." So maybe its not that hard to figure out, after all. Sam Hubbard Jersey .That means, of course, that John Wall beat the Spurs for the first time ever — within weeks of his first wins in head-to-head games against nemeses Chris Paul and Derrick Rose. Andrew Billings Bengals Jersey . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengal...Hubbard-Jersey/. The 23-year-old Neustaedter will move at the end of the season when his contract with Moenchengladbach expires. He signed a four-year deal with Schalke. Preston Brown Jersey .com) - Colorado may be ahead of the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference standings, but they are a club that the Avalanche may want to avoid in the playoffs. Cordy Glenn Bengals Jersey . Dont miss a single shot, live on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Winners of their last eight games, the Heat return to Toronto for the second time in the month of November. After beginning the season 4-3, allowing 100.9 points on 47 per cent shooting, Miamis resurgent defence has vaulted them back to the top of a weak Eastern Conference.Goias, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - Erik scored on either side of the intermission on Sunday as Goias closed out the season with a comfortable 4-2 victory over Chapecoense at the Estadio de Haile Pinheiro. With top-flight survival already assured, the club went into the final week of the season hoping to end the domestic campaign on a positive note and snap a four-match losing streak. The home side opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Erik found the back of the net, but Abuda equalized for Chapecoense in the 28th minute of play. Goias then retook the lead five minutes before the intermission through a goal from Welinton and David Franca made it 3-1 just past the hour mark. Two minutes later Bruno Rangel converted a penalty kick to bring the visitors within one, but Erik completed his double in stoppage time to wrap up all three points for Goias, which finished in 12th place in the table with 47 points. Chapecoense, meanwhile, finished the season in 15th place on 43 points, avoiding the relegation zone by five points. Also in Brazil on Sunday, relegated Botaafogo finished its campaign with a scoreless draw against Atletico Mineiro, while Coritiba claimed a 3-2 win over Bahia on the strength of goals from Ze Eduardo, Dudu and Keirrison.dddddddddddd Luiz Antonio and Luan swapped goals as Gremio and Flamengo played to a 1-1 draw, while Joelintons fourth-minute strike held up to lift Sport Recife to a 1-0 win over Sao Paulo. Thiago Ribeiros strike in the 90th minute handed Santos a 1-0 win against Vitoria, while league champions Cruzeiro closed out their season with a 2-1 win over Fluminense courtesy of goals from Nilton and Marcelo Moreno. Sundays final fixture saw Potigar and Henrique trade first-half goals as Atletico PR and Palmeiras play to a 1-1 stalemate. On Saturday Corinthians wrapped up a fourth-place finish with a 2-1 win over Criciuma, while Internacional finished in third place with a 2-1 result over Figueirense. At the bottom end of the table, Vitoria finished in 17th place, while Bahia finished 18th, Botafogo 19th and Cricicuma at the bottom. All four teams will be playing in Serie B next season. 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