Augusta is wide open

AUGUSTA, Ga. — There is a heightened air of anticipation surrounding this Masters.

The season’s first major always carries a certain cache of inflated import due to Augusta National’s unmatched combination of mystique and familiarity among golf’s legion of fans and addicts. But after last season’s somewhat desultory set of Slams, this week’s 68th edition of the green jacket derby has a definite double-ante feel.

From Magnolia Lane to the media complex to the merchandise pavilion, there’s an added buzz of excitement at Augusta National this year. Here are the top-five topics of conversation surrounding this week’s event, a quintet of subjects capable of conspiring to produce the most memorable Masters since Tiger Woods rewrote the record books in 1997:

Faltering favorite — For the first time in five years, Tiger has arrived at a major as less than a prohibitive favorite. Bookmakers have given Woods anywhere from 4-1 to 6-1 odds on adding a ninth major to his resume; that’s a fore cry from the 3-2 odds that accompanied Woods to the 2002 British Open. Why? Because the world No.1 and three-time Masters champ hasn’t snared a Slam title since the 2002 U.S. Open and can boast only two victories of any sort in stroke-play events over the last year.

The fact that the world considers a skein of six major starts without a victory a Slam slump is a testament to Tiger’s epic talents. But Woods clearly hasn’t been the same player since he jettisoned swing instructor Butch Harmon midway through the 2002 season. Instead of finding a professional replacement for Harmon, Woods has given new meaning to the phrase “promoting from within” by assuming Harmon’s role himself. Though his own counsel has led to a flatter swing, a nasty case of the wide rights off the tee and contention in only one of the last four majors (tied for fourth at the 2003 British Open), Woods bridles at the notion that Harmon, or anyone else, is needed for a return to dominance.

“You’re out there by yourself trying to hit good shots,” said Woods two weeks ago at the Players Championship. “No one is going to bail you out. No one is going to call a quick, 20-second TO. You’ve got to go out and do it on your own.”

Fact is, Sir Swoosh just hasn’t done it at a major since he split with Harmon. But no course (save perhaps St. Andrews) suits Woods’ sublime skills better than Augusta National. And there’s no doubt Tiger would love nothing better than to cram a little crow down the gullets of his critics this week. Everyone on the property is wondering how the Tiger/Butch divorce will play out. Is he setting his skeptics or himself up for a fall? Will heroism or hubris attach itself to Tiger’s name this week?

Fast and furious — In the two years since Augusta National added 305 yards to one of the world’s most venerated layouts, the Masters has been wracked by wet weather. The result has given us two events played on a brutally long, relatively slow track with soft, receptive greens. That isn’t likely to be the case this week, as rain is only in the Thursday forecast and warm, breezy conditions are expected throughout the week.

“Get ready to see the true nature of the beast if that forecast holds,” said defending champion Mike Weir yesterday. “It’s hard and fast out there right now, and that makes this course a totally different animal than we’ve seen since the changes. Hard and fast just accentuates your errors. You’ll see some enormous drives and some unplayable chips and putts. If it’s hard and fast, numbers will definitely go up, and anything around par will be an excellent score.”

Gold standard — After last year’s Slam collection of first-timers (Weir and Jim Furyk) and shocking outsiders (Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel), the majors are due to give us a champion from the game’s pantheon of true powerhouses. Though the jury’s still out on Weir’s status, the short-knocking Canadian Lefty lacks the stunning raw talent of players like Vijay Singh, Ernie Els or Phil Mickelson, and the charisma of stars like Sergio Garcia or John Daly. With Woods struggling, the time is now for golf’s other extraordinary talents. Will this be the week Mickelson or Garcia break free of their Slam shackles? Will major lightning strike a third time for Daly, the only player under the age of 40 who can compete with Tiger’s popularity? Will Davis Love III finally add a second major to his resume? Will Singh or Els stake their claim to Tiger’s throne as world No.1?

The King — Nobody expects much from his game at this point, but nobody has done more for golf or the PGA Tour than Arnold Palmer. This week, the 74-year-old Palmer will make his 50th and final start at the Masters. No sport mocks ageism like golf. And no event pays homage to its aging champions like the Masters.

“I don’t know if I’ll even be alive in 50 years,” said 2001 U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of Palmer’s streak of 50 straight Masters starts. “That’s just an extraordinary statement on his competitive ability and importance to this game.”

The Kid — If you haven’t noticed yet, Tiger is no longer the hottest twentysomething golfer on the planet. That distinction belongs to 23-year-old Australian Adam Scott, who has four top-10 finishes, including a victory at last month’s prestigious Players Championship, in six starts this season. And unlike some youngsters, Scott isn’t exactly overwhelmed by Augusta National, either. In his two previous Masters starts, Scott finished tied for ninth in 2002 and 23rd last year. For a sport constantly looking for a lifetime rival worthy of Woods, Scott is starting to look like the foil of the future.

“I do quite like it around this place, but I think any talk of rivalry or green jackets is getting ahead of the game,” Scott said yesterday. “The Players was big for my confidence, though, because I proved to myself I could handle the moment and finish the job. Hopefully, it all just rolls on from here. I’m very happy with the direction of my game, and it’s definitely going to be an exciting week.”