One of the players teeing off at 10:41 a.m. Thursday won a major last year. If he wins the Masters, he could become the No. 1-ranked player in the world.
That player isn't Tiger Woods. He is Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who will play with Woods and Robert Allenby in the first two rounds.
McDowell had the type of year that Woods, a 14-time major winner, used to have: He won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and then sank the putt that clinched the Ryder Cup for Europe.
Heady stuff for a player who had never challenged in a major before, including making just one cut in three appearances at the Masters.
Now, he'll try to build on last year, which also included a playoff win over Woods in the Chevron World Challenge, by playing one of the world's toughest courses with one of the world's more polarizing players, albeit one who owned Augusta National from 1997-2005 while winning four green jackets.
McDowell said this grouping would have intimidated him a few years ago. Not anymore.
"I feel like I've played with him enough now to where it's pretty normal I guess," said McDowell, who shared the European Tour's player of the year award with Martin Kaymer. "I've got to go and play my own game. ... Once you get used to the whole buzz that surrounds him, especially inside the ropes, once you get your head around that, it's pretty normal."
Poulter-Woods, part III
Ian Poulter was asked earlier this week if he thought Woods would finish in the top five at this week's Masters. Instead of hedging his answer, he said no.
Of course, Woods was asked about Poulter's statement in his news conference Tuesday. His response: “Well, Poulter is always right, isn’t he?”
Poulter sent off a few tweets Tuesday, expressing frustration at the way he's being portrayed. Among them was this one: "You can't win with the press, you answer a question honestly, now I'm the one who looks [bad]. The press can do that to you. Thanks boys."
And another: "Note to self when asked about Tiger always ... say what they want to hear, or you will be ridiculed."
In 2008 Poulter said he thought he was the only one capable of challenging Woods for the No. 1 spot in the world rankings:
"The trouble is I don't rate anyone else," the Englishman said that year in the March issue of the United Kingdom edition of Golf World magazine. "Don't get me wrong, I really respect every professional golfer, but I know I haven't played to my full potential and when that happens, it will be just me and Tiger."
Woods was asked if he thinks he has a better chance of finishing in the top five than Poulter. The four-time Masters winner said he just wants to win the golf tournament, and he is trying to do that by preparing properly.
"I've prepared all year to peak four times a year and that has not changed, and that's what I'm trying to do," he said.
Woods is currently No. 7 in the world. Poulter is No. 16. Woods hasn't tweeted anything about Poulter.
Donald gratified
Luke Donald said he was gratified to hear that Kaymer, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, pegged him as the player to beat this week. Donald isn't the longest driver on tour (272.5-yard average), which would help on Augusta's long course, but he is one of the better putters (28.2 putts per round), which is required.
"I think when your peers are speaking highly about something, you can feed off it and make yourself believe that you're better than you might even think you are," he said.
Donald was confident before Kaymer's comment. He defeated Kaymer in the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship for his only victory this year. He has two other top-10 finishes.
Donald has made the cut four times in six appearances at the Masters, including a third-place finish in 2005.
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