Masters contenders: Sergio Garcia

Of all the players inside the world's top 10, it's Garcia for whom there are the most obvious concerns as we approach the first major of the season.

First and foremost, here remains one of the brightest talents of his generation, a player who looked destined to throw down a genuine challenge to Tiger Woods, yet one who still hasn't won a major championship.

But more of a concern is simply how he's playing right now, and how poor his form at Augusta has been.

In 2014, Garcia was brilliant. In 24 events, a win and 15 further top-20 finishes. Among his best efforts was a fine second to Rory McIlroy in both the Open and the following week's Bridgestone Invitational, while he also finished third in the PLAYERS Championship.

It's all the more alarming, then, that in five starts so far this season he has just one good effort - and that in a tournament he really should've won, finishing bogey-bogey to miss the Northern Trust Open play-off by a single shot.

Garcia has never really looked like winning at Augusta, either, and has more missed cuts than he does top-20 finishes. Given the size of the field - even if it is elite - this too is a damning fact.

In many ways it would therefore be fitting if the enigma that is Sergio Garcia contrived to produce his best ever Masters effort, which would of course make him a key player. The factual evidence, on the other hand, suggests that he'll struggle.