Potential winners of the 2015 Northern Trust Open

A look at some leading candidates to win the Northern Trust Open:

Bubba Watson

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: Winner

World ranking: 3rd

Notes: Earned his fifth PGA Tour victory at the 2014 Northern Trust Open, shooting consecutive 64s over the weekend to defeat Dustin Johnson by two strokes. He went on to win the Masters in 2014. His real first name in Gerry, but his dad called him Bubba in honor of his favorite football player, Bubba Smith. He is part owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the double-A team for the Cincinnati Reds.

Dustin Johnson

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: 2nd

World ranking: 21st

Notes: Returned to the PGA Tour this year after taking a six-month sabbatical for personal reasons. His grandfather, Art Whisnant, played basketball at South Carolina and was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in the early 1960s. Has won eight PGA Tour tournaments, but is still seeking his first major championship.

Charl Schwartzel

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: 5th

World ranking: 30th

Notes: One PGA Tour victory, but it’s a big one: The 2011 Masters. Has nine victories on the European Tour. Says his idol is Angus Buchan, a farmer “who gave his life to God.” Played his first round of golf at 4. Has a pilot’s license.

Jim Furyk

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: T23rd

World ranking: 6th

Notes: Has 16 PGA Tour victories, including the 2003 U.S. Open. His father, Mike, has been his only swing instructor throughout his PGA Tour career, which began in 1992.

Sergio Garcia

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: did not play

World ranking: 7th

Notes: Considered by many to be the best active player who has never won a major. Started playing golf at 3 and became club champion at 12. Is president of soccer team CF Borriol of the Spanish Fourth Division. Made his playing debut for the team in Sept. 2010 when he played eight minutes in CF Borriol’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Ribarroja C.F.

Jordan Spieth

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: T12th

World ranking: 9th

Notes: One PGA Tour victory. Won the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2011 to join Tiger Woods as the only multiple winners of the tournament.

Jimmy Walker

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: T20th

World ranking: 13th

Notes: Four PGA Tour victories, including the 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii. Father-in-law Mark Stiegemeier was the 1975 world champion in freestyle skiing.

Hideki Matsuyama

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: T23rd

World ranking: 14th

Notes: One PGA Tour victory. Matsuyama became the first Japanese amateur to compete in the Masters, when he played in 2011.

Brandt Snedeker

2014 Northern Trust Open finish: did not play

World ranking: 31st

Notes: The PGA Tour’s most recent winner, Snedeker scored a three-shot victory last weekend at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for his second victory there in three years. The latest victory also assured that the Nashville native would make another appearance at the Masters this year.