By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Augusta

Tiger Woods likes where he is at right now - and that does not just mean Augusta, Georgia.

Woods declares himself happy with his private life, his career and his game. With six majors, a new Swedish girlfriend and more money than he can possibly spend, it is easy to understand why.

But everything will not quite be all rosy in the world number one's garden if he does not win the Masters title this weekend.

Twelve months ago it was all 'Tiger, Tiger, Tiger' going into the first major of the season - and nobody argued. He had the chance to become the first player in golfing history to own all four major titles at the same time.

In one of the most remarkable sporting feats in history, Woods did it; coming from five behind after the first round and then holding off David Duval and Phil Mickelson down the stretch and finally sinking a birdie putt on the last green to win by two.

Since then he has failed - and, by his own standards, failed miserably - to make a successful defence of the US Open, Open and US PGA crowns. He was 12th, 25th and 29th and the shots he lost by were seven, nine and 14.

So things are different this April. Instead of going for a clean sweep of the majors, he is trying to avoid being left with none of them.

And instead of him being the centre of attention, the course is. Nearly 300 yards longer now, Augusta National is shaping up to hit back at the beating it took from Woods in 1997, when he was a record 18 under par, and last year, when he finished 16 under.

The 26-year-old does not take it personally, though. In fact, it should help him win again, albeit with a higher score.

Softened by some rain, the course was starting to play even longer for today's final practice round and with more downpours forecast the advantage the big-hitters have grows more.

In one respect, Woods likes the fact that the build-up has been quieter for him compared to last time.

"I got asked the same question again and again," he said. Could he do it?

"I understood it, but it became a little bit on the annoying side."

Annoying maybe, but he would love to have the same situation at this August's US PGA championship with a Grand Slam on the line.

First things first, however. Woods has just had two weeks off after failing to defend another of his titles, the Players Championship in Florida. He was only 14th there.

"I feel like the practice sessions I had at home were very, very positive," he commented. "I just tried to stick with what I was working on because I knew it was close.

"The course will be a lot more difficult, but I thoroughly enjoy playing these majors because you have the challenge of the course and you know you always have the best players in the world attending."

For only the second time in Masters history - and just the fourth time at any tournament - the top 50 in the world are all present.

That's right down to Lee Westwood, whose 18 months without a victory have seen him tumble from fifth place in the rankings and make him an unfancied runner in the event he led with nine holes to play three years ago, but did not appear in last year because he was waiting for the birth of his son Samuel.

Now there are 10 Europeans ahead of Westwood in the standings and four of them in particular have firm foundations for believing they can do what Retief Goosen did at the US Open, David Duval at the Open and David Toms at the US PGA - take advantage of any fallibility Woods may show.

Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal, winners in America already this year, lead the European assault, while Darren Clarke hopes to build on his second place in Houston two weeks ago and Padraig Harrington on his seventh place in Atlanta on Sunday.

Colin Montgomerie's new belly putter holds the key to whether he can be a factor on his 11th attempt at the Masters and 43rd major.

Three-time winner Nick Faldo plays his 80th major trying to forget another 80, his closing round at the Players Championship. After climbing to third place and reviving memories of old, he undid it all with that finish.

Paul Lawrie needs to get two missed cuts in two trips to Augusta out of his head and Dubliner Paul McGinley and Belfast's Michael Hoey have to forget debutants and amateurs traditionally struggle.

The other British players are Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam, part of Masters past for their wins in 1988 and 1991 respectively and trying to show they can feature in Masters present too.

But while 88 of the 89 players will all be keen to know what Woods shoots after he tees off at 10.53am tomorrow - 3.53pm British Summer Time - the players Woods will be keeping an eye on most are probably Duval, Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els.

Big hitters, big dangers. And maybe Els, with three wins this year, is the biggest of all.