Tiger Woods geared up for Masters challenge

Tiger Woods, in the midst of crafting one of golf's most dominating stretches of brilliance and the runaway favorite at the Masters, is becoming the Intimidator of world golf.

Seeing Woods atop a Sunday leaderboard has signified a fight for second place among the rest of the world's best. The last 13 times he held the lead or was tied for the lead going into the final round he has closed the deal.

Woods bearing down on a front-runner has led to gruesome breakdowns and embarrassing collapses sometimes uncomfortable to watch on video replay.

The winner of seven of his last 11 tournaments and second or tied for second in three of the others does not deny the effect his hypnotic form has had on some rivals.

He said Tuesday that he learned at an early age about the power of intimidation.

"I did one time," he said about feeling intimidated. "It's the first and only time I was intimidated on a golf course.

"I was 11 years old and playing this 12 year old, and I had a chance to win if I played a good, solid round. There was a 290-yard par-4. And at 12 years old, the guy drove the green.

"I was really taken aback by that and felt like there was no way I could compete. I ended up beating him in the tournament. My dad and I talked about it. But from then on, no."

Woods went on to win an unprecedented three U.S. junior titles and three U.S. Amateur championships with his irresistible combination of explosive power and delicate touch.

Then there was his record-shattering victory at the 1997 Masters, his first Augusta National appearance as a pro, which produced the record low score and widest victory margin ever.

He already is the biggest money winner in golf history -- at age 24.

"There's no point being intimidated on the golf course," said Woods, about the advice his father gave him.

"I have a lot of belief in my own game and own abilities and believe in them. I've put in the hard work. If you didn't put in the work, then you obviously can be intimidated because you don't know what can be accomplished.

"I know what I can accomplish."

So does the rest of the golf world, and that is precisely the problem these days.

Even the accomplished Davis Love, winner of 13 tour titles including the 1997 PGA Championship, admitted being intimidated by the Intimidator after finishing second a couple of times to Woods in recent months.

This drew fire from Greg Norman, who knows all about agonizing, second-place finishes but refuses to concede an advantage to any man.

"Davis Love made this comment that he gets intimidated by playing with Tiger Woods," Norman said.

"I like Davis, he's a good friend of mine. But when you read an article like that, you go, 'Whoa, they're already beaten. They've already been beaten.'"

Norman said he would relish going down the stretch against Woods. "I wouldn't play him, I'd play my own game. I'd put a cocoon around myself and not get caught up in what's going on.

"If you don't think you're good enough to beat Tiger Woods, don't even play out here. There's going to be a lot of whippersnappers coming out here who say 'I can beat him.' A lot of kids dreaming of that day. So if you don't think you can beat him, don't step out here."

Woods, who finished tied for eighth and tied for 18th in his last two Masters, is eager for Thursday's opening round.

"I have been targeting this. My game's been getting better week by week," said Woods, whose extraordinary run has come after intense work refining his swing for better control.

"I'm excited about some of the shots I'm hitting now and the control I have. I've been working hard to get to this point and it's nice to see the fruits of good hard labor."

Woods said the key to the success of idol Jack Nicklaus was how consistently he gave himself a chance to win in the majors on his way to collecting an amazing 18 titles.

The current world number one said he would need a lot of luck to assume the mantle of greatest player from Nicklaus.

"Your skill can only take you so far," said Woods, who with a Masters victory would match Nicklaus's mark of three major championships by the age of 24.

"At times, you're going to out there and play great and lose, and other times you're going to go out there and play not so great and luck yourself into a victory, which I've done before.

"The key to being a great player over a long period of time is consistency."

And to be fearless -- up to a point.

Asked if there was anything in life that could intimidate him now, Woods took a long pause to consider.

"Maybe to step in the ring with Tyson," the precocious pragmatist replied.