Ryan Palmer believes this could be his year at Masters

Can Ryan Palmer win the Masters?

The 2014 Masters runner-up Jordan Spieth thinks so.

Two-time Masters champion Tom Watson, who will be teeing off in his 42nd Masters, says the length Palmer drives it means he can win.

Palmer’s 13-year caddie, James Edmondson – whose golfing talents won him a club championship at The Colonial – is all in on a possible victory.

“There is no doubt in my mind I can win this tournament,” said Palmer, 38. “The way I’m playing, with me, it’s all about the putter and if I can get the speeds down.”

Palmer gained some “Au­gus­ta green” knowledge in a nine-hole practice round Tuesday with Watson and Ben Crenshaw, who have a combined 84 Masters appearances and four green jackets on their résumés.

“I’m always trying to learn and just to watch a guy like Ben putt is going to help,” Palmer said.

Palmer is playing in his fifth Masters, 10 years after his first, and he has found a comfort zone at Augusta. He is the 23rd-ranked golfer in the world and ranks sixth in driving distance on the PGA Tour, averaging 306.1 yards.

The most telling change in the 2005 Masters version of Palmer and the 2015 version can best be described by what happened in late January, when Palmer finished 10th at the Humana Challenge.

“When I was done, I was pretty frustrated because I had a chance to win,” Palmer said. “James reminded me how not that long ago I would have been thrilled with a 10th-place finish.”

Edmondson said that’s why Palmer can contend in a major.

“Ryan’s expectations are so much higher,” he said. “He’s a totally different golfer from 2005. He’s more mature. He’s more calm. He has more self belief and his hard work is paying off. He’s doing it his way. The Ryan Palmer way. That is practice with a purpose. Limit reps. Stay rested.

“It’s a combination of things with him. His driver is great, putting is good, iron play has been solid. Most important, it’s between his ears. He finally believes he knows he belongs.”

Palmer isn’t the only pro golfer who believes his name can appear on the Masters leaderboard this week.

“I think Ryan should be considered in the mix (to win it),” said Spieth, who is friends with Palmer, with both living in the Dallas area. “He hits it far. He hits a little right-to-left draw and he’s a good kind of feel-based putter.

“I think the harder the course and the more challenging the weather the better chance Ryan has. … He should be in consideration with his length and ability to be able to handle the shots around the green.”

Watson said after playing Tuesday’s practice round with Palmer: “Ryan is a long-hitting pro and it takes that way to do it here. You have to hit it long here to win, and he hit some really good shots.”

Palmer is simply in a good place with life. His game is strong. Having played so many rounds on the hallowed Augusta grounds has calmed his nerves.

“I’m hitting the ball well and everything is clicking,” Palmer said. “The awe factor is always there. This is the Masters. This is the Mecca. But the ‘Oh my god it’s Augusta’ is gone. This is a 98-man field and I feel I have a chance to win as well as any of those guys do.”