Fast Augusta will be a stern test for world's best

This week's U.S. Masters promises to be one of the most open in recent memory, even though Tiger Woods will be bidding for his third green jacket in four years at Augusta National.

Woods, under increasing scrutiny over his form since his 2002 split with swing coach Butch Harmon, has struggled for much of the last 15 months with his accuracy off the tee and the precision of his approach play.

Pre-Masters talk has focused on whether the American can return to winning ways in the majors after a barren run of six starts and on how much his rivals have closed the gap on the world number one.

In sharp contrast with last year's event, the build-up to the 68th Masters has been dominated by on-course issues rather than golfing politics.

Four-times winner Arnold Palmer is certain to provide the week's most nostalgic moment in his record 50th and final Masters while the par-72 Augusta National layout, baked by eight days of unbroken sunshine, will run at its slickest and firmest.

"If you don't hit the proper golf shot here this week, you're really going to pay the price for it because everything is just zipping off the greens," Woods told reporters.

"The landing areas are that much smaller now. It puts more of a premium on being below the hole and missing the golf shots in a proper place, if you can.

"It's going to become more apparent who is really hitting the ball well as the week goes on because you can't get away with having a bad ball-striking day."

Despite question marks about his swing, Woods is in confident mood for Thursday's opening round -- but so too are his rivals.

Established challengers such as Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III have all displayed superb form in recent months.

"I think our play has gone a step higher and that's closed the gap (on Woods), if there was one," said 2000 champion Singh. "And it's not just the top guys like Mickelson and myself that are doing it, the whole field has improved."

Left-handed Mickelson, the best current player yet to win a major, heads the PGA Tour money list for the first time in six years. Winner of the Bob Hope Classic in January, he has produced seven top-10 finishes in eight 2004 starts.

"This year, I certainly feel like I have a very good chance," said Mickelson, who has placed third in the last three Masters.

"I think what's been nice is that I've played well week in and week out...which is something I certainly didn't do last year."

Defending champion Mike Weir of Canada, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Britain's Darren Clarke are also likely to shine in the opening major of the year, while much is expected of the younger guns such as Australia's Adam Scott and Texan Chad Campbell.

Scott, widely touted as heir-apparent to Woods as world number one, won the prestigious Players Championship in Florida last month while Campbell showcased his rich talent with a six-shot victory at the Bay Hill Invitational three weeks ago.

"I feel good about teeing off on Thursday and, without putting too much pressure on myself, I feel like I have a legitimate chance," said the 23-year-old Scott.

Woods last year had been bidding for an unprecedented third win in a row, but pre-tournament talk then was clouded by a planned protest against the club's male-only membership policy and a U-turn by Augusta over tightening the tournament's qualification criteria for ageing past champions.

This year, however, is very different.

"People are talking about golf, instead of all the other stuff that was going on last year," said Weir. "There's a lot of electricity out there this week."

Another factor contributing to the wide-open nature of this year's Masters is that the last five major championships have been clinched by first-time winners - Rich Beem, Weir, Jim Furyk, Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel.

"A lot of them have been guys that people probably wouldn't have bet on," said Augusta-born Charles Howell III.

"Everyone in this field can win the golf tournament. Anything can happen."