Augusta has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Europeans over the years although you have to go back to 1999 for the last success from 'over the pond' when Jose Maria Olazabal landed a second green jacket. Here we look at the leading European challengers bidding to bring the title back across the Atlantic.
Paul Casey (Eng)
Record: Played 3. Best: 6th (2004). Top 10s: 2. Cuts made: 2. Best round: 68. Worst round: 79.
Tenth in both Masters and US Open last year and knows he has the game to win majors.
Daniel Chopra (Swe)
Record: Debut.
Made seven trips to European qualifying school, but switched to America, had first win last October and started this year with another victory, beating Steve Stricker in play-off to earn first trip to Augusta.
Luke Donald (Eng)
Record: Played 3. Best: 3rd (2005). Top 10s: 2. Cuts made: 3. Best round: 68. Worst round: 77.
Played last eight holes in six under - two eagles, two birdies - for third place on his debut.
Nick Dougherty (Eng)
Record: Debut.
Nick Faldo protege who led the US Open last year and whose eighth place squeezed him into Masters field. Won Dunhill Links at St Andrews last October to give Ryder Cup bid lift-off.
Niclas Fasth (Swe)
Record: Played 3. Best: 55th (2007). Cuts made: 1. Best round: 73. Worst round: 81.
Best major finish remains second in 2001 Open, but was fourth in US Open last year. Yet to break par round Augusta in eight attempts.
Sergio Garcia (Spa)
Record: Played 9. Best: 4th (2004). Top 10s: 2. Cuts made: 6. Best round: 66. Worst round: 79.
Now has 13 top 10 finishes in majors, but still no wins after crushing disappointment of losing Open play-off to Padraig Harrington.
Anders Hansen (Den)
Record: Debut.
Winner of Europe's PGA Championship for second time last year and made Masters field by 0.01 world ranking points. Twelfth place in US PGA last August easily his best-ever finish in a major.
Soren Hansen (Den)
Record: Debut. Won his first European Tour title just after Anders Hansen - no relation - won his in 2002 and both added their second titles in 2007. Now they make their Masters debuts at the same time.
Padraig Harrington (Ire)
Record: Played 8. Best: 5th (2002). Top 10s: 2. Cuts made: 6. Best round: 68. Worst round: 77.
Became Europe's first major champion since 1999 with Open triumph last year - and Ireland's first since 1947.
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa)
Record: Played 9. Best: 9 (2002). Top 10s: 2. Cuts made: 6. Best round: 68. Worst round: 79.
Seven wins in Europe before turning 40 and seven more since. Has also finished second in US Open and third in Open.
Robert Karlsson (Swe)
Record: Played 1. Best: 30th (2007). Cuts made: 1. Best round: 72. Worst round: 79.
Waited long time for first Ryder Cup cap in 2006 and even longer for Masters debut. Sweden's most prolific winner in Europe with seven titles.
Martin Kaymer (Ger)
Record: Debut.
Last season's European Rookie of the Year will play his first major after winning first Tour title in Abu Dhabi in January and then being second to Tiger Woods in Dubai.
Bernhard Langer (Ger)
Record: Played 25. Best: 1 (1985-93). Top 10s: 8. Cuts made: 21. Best round: 66. Worst round: 79.
Was a runner-up on both sides of the Atlantic last season and to nobody's surprise quickly won on US Seniors Tour.
Sandy Lyle (Sco)
Record: Played 26. Best: 1 (1988). Top 10s: 1. Cuts made: 13. Best round: 65. Worst round: 82.
Made cut last April for only second time in last eight Masters, but did not manage single top 20 finish all year.
Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa)
Record: Played 20. Best: 1st (1994-99). Top 10s: 8. Cuts made: 16. Best round: 66. Worst round: 81. Twice winner was joint third in 2006, but had more health problems last year and is only just returning after seven months out.
Ian Poulter (Eng)
Record: Played 3. Best: 13th (2007). Top 10s: 0. Cuts made: 3. Best round: 70. Worst round: 76.
Ended last year on high note with victory in Japan and is on course for Ryder Cup return this season.
Justin Rose (Eng)
Record: Played 3. Best: 5th (2007). Top 10s: 1. Cuts made: 3. Best round: 67. Worst round: 81.
Led at halfway in 2004 and last year was one behind with two to play, but double-bogeyed 17th. Won Volvo Masters to be crowned European number one.
Henrik Stenson (Swe)
Record: Played 2. Best: 17th (2007). Cuts made: 1. Best round: 72. Worst round: 77.
Moved to world number five with two big early wins last year - Desert Classic and then World Match Play - but disappointed rest of season.
Lee Westwood (Eng)
Record: Played 8. Best: 6th (1999). Top 10s: 1. Cuts made: 5. Best round: 68. Worst round: 79.
Led with nine to play in 1999, was European number one the following season and after slump outside world top 250 has come back to prominence. Should not need Ryder Cup wild card this time.
Ian Woosnam (Wal)
Record: Played 19. Best: 1st (1991). Top 10s: 1. Cuts made: 12. Best round: 66. Worst round: 81.
Triumphant 2006 Ryder Cup captain last made cut at Augusta in 2000 and pulled out before the start last year with chronic fatigue problem that plagued him all year.
