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| April 4, 2003 | Friday | Safar 1, 1424 |
Tiger Woods overwhelming favourite for US Masters
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 3: World number one Tiger Woods is the overwhelming favourite for next week’s U.S. Masters at Augusta National, where he will be bidding for an unprecedented third successive victory.
Woods, and some of his fellow competitors, have been speaking about the first of the year’s four majors:
Defending champion Woods: “I’m excited about the possibility of having an opportunity to go for three straight Masters. It’s something that I know has never been done before and I’m certainly looking forward to it. It’s going to be one heck of a challenge.”
Ernie Els, who won four titles in his first seven starts of the year: “Life has been great the last couple of months and I’m really thrilled. I don’t think I have ever played better than this on the world stage. I really feel like I’ve stepped up another gear.”
Davis Love III, winner of last week’s Players’ Championship: “I feel like I’ve elevated my game this year ... back to where I am comfortable and where I feel like I can compete with anybody.
I don’t need to worry about anybody else and what they’re doing. I can do anything I want to do as long as I’m prepared for it.”
Retief Goosen, the 2001 U.S. Open champion, who missed the Players’ Championship cut last week after producing two top-five finishes in his first three PGA Tour events of 2003:
“I think my iron play is not quite as good as I would like it to be. I feel like I’m driving the ball pretty well, but I’m just not getting it anywhere near the flag and leaving myself some difficult putts.”
Padraig Harrington, who tied for second place at the Players’ Championship on Sunday: “I’m ahead of where I was this time last year. I don’t know what that means as regards results but, in all aspects of my game — whether it’s short game, putting, mental game or swing-wise — I think I’m better at that than I was at this time last year. That’s nice and comforting.”
Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, who finished in the top 10 at last week’s Players’ Championship:
“I would love to keep playing well, so I am trying not to look forward to Augusta because I feel like I am playing much better. My goal is to be playing like I am now when I get there.”
Phil Mickelson on the atmosphere at this year’s Masters after the build-up was overshadowed by criticism of Augusta’s male-only membership policy:
“I don’t think it will be different from a player’s point of view. When we get inside the gates and when we’re playing and competing in our first major championship of 2003, the feel will be the same as it always has been.”
Jack Nicklaus, who will be competing in his 43rd Masters: “While I don’t know if my golf game is good enough or not, I feel good enough, physically, and I am hitting the ball long enough to play the golf course. Now, it’s up to me.”
Arnold Palmer, set for his 49th Masters at the age of 73 after Augusta officials decided to scrap plans banning former champions from playing after they turn 65:
“I had it in the back of my mind...that I want to play competitively in the Masters for 50 years. I am personally very pleased that will be possible now that the matter has been resolved as I hoped it would be.”—Reuters
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