Decade missing a match for ages

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Golf is still waiting for its decade-defining major duel.

The 1950s had Sam Snead vs. Ben Hogan at the 1954 Masters.

The 1960s featured Jack Nicklaus over Arnold Palmer at Oakmont in the 1962 U.S. Open, exposing the first major crack in the King’s throne.

The 1970s brought Tom Watson dropping Nicklaus at Turnberry in the 1977 British Open to collect the second of his five claret jugs.

The 1980s brought perhaps the game’s ultimate competitive treasure when the Golden Bear emerged from his den one last time to best both Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros at Augusta National in 1986.

The 1990s were highlighted by a pair of unforgettable tussles between Norman and Nick Faldo; the Aussie devoured the stoic Brit over the weekend at Sandwich in the 1993 British Open, but Faldo struck back on a surreal Sunday at Augusta National in 1996 in the decade’s trump-card clash.

Since the turn of the century, however, no Grand Slam showdown qualifies. Sure, Tiger Woods and Bob May provided riveting theater at Valhalla in the 2000 PGA, exchanging birdie blasts until Woods prevailed in a playoff. But there’s a reason May isn’t as recognizable of a name.

And Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els provided some epic back-nine fireworks at the 2004 Masters before Lefty shrugged off his major monkey and slipped into a green jacket. But it would be absurd to suggest any duel without Woods, perhaps history’s defining player, merits consideration as the signature showdown of the decade.

So as the field begins play today in the 72nd Masters, the golf world again wonders whether this might be the long-awaited week that culminates in a back-nine Sunday battle between Woods and a fellow multiple major champion like Mickelson, Els or even Vijay Singh.

“For quite a few years now we’ve been waiting to see one of those guys go toe-to-toe with Tiger in a major,” said Nicklaus, whose record 18 major triumphs could use some defense against Woods and his quickly closing 13 major uprisings. “The majority of his major wins have come with less decorated players pushing him.”

If golf fans and CBS could conspire on this week’s perfect script, Woods would find himself swapping Sunday salvos with Mickelson as dusk descends on Augusta National.

After all, the world No. 2 has put two green jackets in his locker over the last four years (2004 and 2006) and ranks second only to Woods among the 94 players in the field in scoring average at Augusta National. The 32-year-old Woods has played his 50 career Masters rounds in an average of 71.00 strokes en route to four victories; the 37-year-old Mickelson boasts an average of 71.24 in 58 tournament rounds, though many came before the layout’s toothy new incarnation (7,445 yards, par 72).

And while few players in history could rival Woods’ current form of nine victories in 11 starts, Lefty has enjoyed a solid season, notching his 33rd PGA Tour victory at Riviera in the Northern Trust Open before his putter began misbehaving during the recent Florida swing.

With almost a full year of Butch Harmon’s instruction behind him and last season’s gimpy wrists fully healed, Mickelson rarely has been more confident in his ball-striking. And after a run of solid though uninspiring results produced by some suspect putting, Mickelson is hopeful that this week’s return to putting surfaces he could read blindfolded will awaken his slumbering short stick.

“I spent a little time on a [putting] track to make sure my stroke was right, and I started to roll the ball a lot better,” said Mickelson, explaining the contraption he used extensively Monday and Tuesday to regain his pure stroke. “And also, knowing the reads, which I do for the most part here after playing here so many years, will give me more confidence.”

Perhaps one of the most surprising sources of Lefty’s confidence also will come from his recent record in rare head-to-head tangles with Tiger. Since Woods’ professional debut in late 1996, there have been 16 events in which both he and Mickelson have recorded top-five finishes with one or the other winning. Though Woods has nine victories to Mickelson’s seven in such circumstances, Lefty has come out on top in three of the past four.

Though the latest such example — a two-stroke win for Mickelson at last year’s Deutsch Bank Championship — marked a rare setback in Woods’ glory-strewn career, he lives for such moments.

“I just love getting out there and mixing it up with the guys here, and they’re trying to beat me, and I’m trying to beat them,” Woods said. “That’s fun.”

SEEING GREEN

Barker Davis of The Washington Times breaks down the favorites for this week’s Masters, which begins today on 7,445-yard, par-72 Augusta National. Official odds provided by Ladbrokes of London, England’s largest bookmaker:Tiger Woods (11-8) — If Tiger putts well this weekend, the rest of the field is swinging for silver. He has won nine times in his last 11 starts worldwide, and his 2008 scoring average (67.30) makes him a seven strokes better than the next most consistent scorer in the world (Luke Donald ” 69.01) over the course of an event.

Phil Mickelson (10-1) — Lefty’s 10 top-10s and two victories (2004 and 2006) make him one of the most successful players in the event’s history. But if the Masters resolves into a dream Phil vs. Tiger scenario, would anyone back Lefty?

Geoff Ogilvy (20-1) — The Aussie birdie machine led the field in sub-par holes last year (16 birdies and one eagle) and comes in riding a win/runner-up hot streak (CA Championship and Houston Open). But Ogilvy has a nasty habit of posting the odd big number and losing his focus. He used to scream; now he sulks.

Vijay Singh (20-1) — With eight consecutive top-20s, including a victory in 2000, the 45-year-old Fijian is always a factor at the Masters. But the putting stroke that has long been his Achilles’ heel isn’t improving with age.

Ernie Els (25-1) — The smooth-swinging South African snapped his four-year PGA Tour victory drought last month at the Honda Classic. Nobody in the field has more top-10 finishes at the Masters without a victory (six). Because of his questionable mental toughness, Els hasn’t been in the mix since the greencoats changed Augusta National from a bomber’s birdie paradise to a more conventional grinder’s track.

Padraig Harrington (25-1) — The longer incarnation of the Masters perfectly suits the British Open champion’s long-iron brilliance, resulting in a tie for seventh last year. The anti-Els/Ogilvy, Harrington’s chances increase as the weather makes playing conditions more distracting and difficult.

Retief Goosen (25-1) — Thanks to his extraordinary putting touch, Goose is a fixture on Masters leader boards ” witness six straight top-15 finishes. If he keeps his chronically misbehaving driver in play, the stolid South African is certain to be in the weekend mix.

Justin Rose (33-1) — The 27-year-old Brit is playing the most consistent golf of his young career and should build upon last season’s tie for fifth. Still, it’s probably too much to expect Rose to contend in consecutive Masters.

K.J. Choi (33-1) — South Korea’s “Tank” has indeed been a golfing machine since the start of the 2007 season, rolling up more top-25 finishes (23 in 33 starts) than any other player in the game. Much like Jim Furyk before him, Choi is so consistently superb that an eventual major victory seems inevitable.

Adam Scott (33-1) — Much like Sergio Garcia, the Aussie has been somewhat slow to fulfill his anticipated major destiny. Given that Scott is still somewhat weakened after withdrawing from last week’s Houston Open with a stomach virus, it’s hard to envision this being his breakout week.

Others

Jim Furyk (40-1)

Sergio Garcia (50-1)

Steve Stricker (50-1)

Luke Donald (50-1)

Henrik Stenson (50-1)

Aaron Baddeley (66-1)

Lee Westwood (66-1)

Zach Johnson (66-1)

Stewart Cink (66-1)