Woods seeks more Masters history

AUGUSTA, Ga., April 9 (UPI) -- The most significant moments in golf over the past five years have taken place at The Masters and they have been created by Tiger Woods.

Now, as he enters a new phase in his career, Woods returns to the Augusta National Golf Club ready to resume his assault on the record book.

"I guess I am a veteran now," the 26-year-old winner of six major titles said Tuesday during his pre-Masters meeting with those who have chronicled his exploits. "Am I a seasoned veteran? I'm not a grizzled veteran yet, am I?"

The relaxed nature of the world's best player was in contrast to the young man who arrived at Augusta a year ago. On that occasion, he was wound tight as he sought the title that would separate himself from all those who had gone before.

He needed to win that Masters to complete the first sweep of all four major titles and he outdueled Phil Mickelson and David Duval to capture the crown.

"It is a lot nicer this year because I didn't have to answer all those questions leading up to the tournament," he said. "I understood it. But answering the same questions about winning all four majors came to be on the annoying side.

"This year is different, no doubt about it. Instead of the talk about me going after four in a row, all the talk is about the changes they have made in the course.

"I guess over the course of the past year, I have definitely begun to appreciate it (winning the four straight majors) more than I did immediately after I had won. After it was over, I just felt like I had won the Masters because I focused so hard on winning this one tournament.

"You say, 'wow, I just won the Masters.' Your mind doesn't go back and say, "I won the three previous to this one.'

"As time has gone on and I have looked at the tapes and watched it, I appreciate it a lot more than when I won.

"I was mentally exhausted when it was over. I got sick after the tournament and a lot of it had to do with allergies and pollen. But stress can also break down your immune system. You lose weight. Bobby Jones used to lose 10 to 12 pounds in every major championship he played.

"The day after I won last year, I had a 104 degree fever. I just went to bed and tried to recover."

Not only did Woods win the Masters to complete the, "Tiger Slam," last year, it was in 1997 that he fulfilled all of the high expectations placed on him by winning the tournament by an astounding 12 shots. He set 20 tournament records that year, including the lowest 72-hole total in the event's history.

That record, an 18-under total of 270, should last quite a while -- especially since the famed course has been made tougher with more yardage, more trees in strategic spots and a short, fuzzy rough.

"It will be difficult to beat," Woods said. "Somebody will have to play really well to have a chance. In '97, the greens weren't that hard and you could be aggressive.

"The course is a lot harder now. It helps to have distance off the tee, but you have to be accurate. The person who hits it further will always have an advantage, but you can't bomb it down there thinking that you can make birdie or par from anywhere like you could in the past. You must hit the ball in the fairway."

Woods has created so much history at the Augusta National that he and the course are forever linked.

"But I think it is a special place for everybody," he said. "Not just me.

"This place does gives you a special feeling, though. You always hear people talk about the roars you hear in the gallery and being able to know what is happening and that is true.

"Last year, when I was battling David (Duval) and Phil (Mickelson), you could hear all the roars and know what was going on. I was on the 17th hole and when I hit my second shot, I heard a huge roar and I just knew David had hit it close at the 18th.

"And when I didn't hear anything for a while and then I heard a groan and I knew he had missed the putt.

"When I played here in '98, I was paired with Davis (Love) in the final round and we played right behind Jack (Nicklaus) when he made that great run. You could hear the roars all day for Jack. It is like nowhere else."

Since Woods won his fourth straight major title a year ago, the major events have been won by Retief Goosen (U.S. Open), David Duval (British Open) and David Toms (PGA Championship).

There is a theory among those who travel the PGA Tour that after completing his four-major sweep, Woods has found it difficult to build the kind of enthusiasm he had during his amazing run of success.

This, then, would be the perfect week for Woods to demonstrate he has not lost any zeal.

"I would love to be able to prepare for every major championship the way I have in the past and do it until the time my body breaks down," Woods said. "But you never know. I do know this. I love major championships because the best players in the world are here and the competition is at its best."

Masters officials announced Tuesday that 92 players will tee off in the opening round of the tournament. Former winners Billy Casper, Gay Brewer and Doug Ford, all of whom were asked this year by tournament chairman Hootie Johnson not to compete, agreed to end their Masters participation.

There has been speculation this week that Arnold Palmer might be playing in his final Masters this year. The pairings released Tuesday showed Palmer will play in the company of amateur Robert Hamilton and Japan's Toru Taniguchi for the first two rounds.

Rains that had been forecast to hit the course Tuesday stayed away so that members of the field could complete their practice rounds. Rain, however, was expected to hit the area overnight with a chance of showers also in the Thursday forecast.