Tiger Woods, Phil, or Who?

Those are the basic choices given for this year's Masters champion, or maybe even for the rest of this decade. Ernie Els did break through with a win at the Honda, after a struggle for most of the past two years. But he's also going through swing changes with new coach Butch Harmon. Another contender who has not yet put on the green jacket is Retief Goosen. Just think, Tiger Woods would pass Arnold Palmer by winning a fifth green jacket, putting him one behind Jack Nicklaus. It would also break a tie with Ben Hogan for third on the PGA Tour carrier victories list with his 65th. Only Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82) lie ahead. Woods hasn't won at Augusta since 2005. He tied for third in 2006 when Mickelson won and tied for second behind Zach Johnson last year. His perfect season came to an end at the World Golf Championships CA Championship at Doral last month when he finished fifth. He has won his last five tournaments. Go Tiger!

Tiger Woods Wins

Tiger Woods won by 8 and tied Palmer. He joined some elite company Sunday, even though he might as well have been playing alone. He thrilled the four-deep gallery with an improbable flop shot from the muck of the trampled grass behind the ninth green to save par. He sent Torrey Pines' into delirium with a 60 ft birdie putt that started in one direction and slid into the cup from the other. He made three straight bogeys on the back nine, a rarity for him when he's in the lead. All in all, it was his 62nd career victory, tying him with Arnold Palmer for fourth place on the tour list.

Tiger Woods on Course at Buick

The PGA tour began a slow shift back to golf at sunrise Wednesday at Torrey Pines. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had not been on the same piece of property in nearly four months, since celebrating the U.S. victory at the Presidents Cup in Montreal. They were on the first tee together in the chilly morning of the Buick Invitational pro-am. That was one day after a player meeting on the new anti-doping policy that brought the occasional outburst. Many people feel the PGA Tour season doesn't start until Tiger Woods shows up. This year, it couldn't come fast enough.