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. Cheap MLB Jerseys . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. Cheap Rickey Henderson Jersey . - This is just the warm-up act for 18-year-old William Nylander. http://www.cheappadresjerseys.com/.com) - Delon Wright made all 12 of his free throws and finished with 21 points and six assists as No. Cheap Padres Jerseys China . That little deal worked out in a big way for the Mavericks. Nowitzki had 21 points Tuesday night to pass Oscar Robertson for 10th on the NBAs career scoring list, leading the Mavs to a 95-83 victory over the Utah Jazz. Cheap Tony Gwynn Jersey . On Tuesday, the star questioned whether that was still the case. Speaking to reporters at a charity event, Johnson said: "I just kind of wonder sometimes: Is this still the place for me?" Johnsons comments came after he was asked why he recently skipped a voluntary minicamp.ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Oakland Raiders found the perfect tonic for the teams most lopsided loss in more than a half-century: the schedule.Instead of spending Monday dwelling on a 52-0 loss to the St. Louis Rams, the Raiders have already turned their attention to this weeks game against the Bay Area rival San Francisco 49ers in a contest defensive end Justin Tuck believes will be a bloodbath.Everybody in this area has been waiting for this game for a long time, Tuck said. I think thats the best thing that could have happened after a loss like that, is to have this type of game where all of your attention has to be focused on the 49ers going forward.Its quite understandable that the Raiders dont want to look back at Sundays game for too long. They did watch the film and make the necessary corrections. There were quite a few after the teams worst loss since falling 55-0 to Houston in the opener of the 1961 season — two years before Al Davis first joined the franchise.The defence allowed Shaun Hill to lead St. Louis to five touchdowns on the opening five drives of the game as Oakland (1-11) had no answer for the Rams speed on the outside with Tre Mason, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.The offence didnt generate a first down until the deficit was 21-0, turned the ball over a season-high five times and converted just 4 of 18 third-down attempts.That led to rookie Derek Carr getting pulled in the fourth quarter after going 24 for 39 for 173 yards and two interceptions for a season-low 50.5 quarterback rating.There was just no need to keep Derek out there at that point any longer, interim coach Tony Sparano said.Matt Schaub took over andd committed two turnovers, including an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Trumaine Johnson.ddddddddddddSchaub lost his starting job in Houston last year after setting an NFL record by having an interception returned for a TD in four straight games.It all added up to quite a step back after the Raiders finally broke through with their first win of the season 10 days earlier in a 24-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.It is unacceptable, receiver James Jones said. Were all pros in there. Everybody has to hold themselves accountable, and that was unacceptable to go out there and put that type of game on film after a big win.Tuck said some players might have basked in the first win a bit too long but expects they have learned their lesson about turning over a new page each week.Sparano doesnt expect that to be an issue when the team begins practicing for San Francisco on Wednesday.This teams always been great about bouncing back and theyre really good about being resilient and theyre really willing, he said. Thats one of the things I love the most about this group, is their will to kind of fight back. I dont anticipate that being a problem this week, but we will get work in.NOTES: Sparano said he was hopeful RB Latavius Murray would be back this week after missing Sundays game with a concussion. ... Sparano said he was concerned about the health of TE Brian Leonhardt, who has been knocked out of the past two games with concussion