US Masters Countdown: Tiger Woods is a Capricorn, just like his good pal Mark O'Meara. Just like Sergio Garcia, too.

For this week, according to an astrologer of note here in America, the stars have ordained for those under that sign that the Cancer moon for the first two days of the US Masters might be "a drag on your efficiency . . . (but) Mars in your house of service and health will strengthen your efforts to stay on task".

Does it mean anything? Of all the sportsmen on this planet, Woods, the world's number one golfer and coming into this ever-changing course at Augusta National in pursuit of a fifth US Masters title, is least likely to believe such stargazing.

Destiny may be calling, but he, more than anything else, orchestrates what direction it takes. Right now, his teeth gleaming white and his eyes sparkling, Woods is absorbed by the thought that this is his time and his place. In his heart and soul, particularly with the additional changes, he believes this is where he fulfils destiny.

Augusta National has indeed been his place. Since he lapped the field in 1997 on the way to his first Masters title, Woods has returned each year to find some nip-'n'-tuck surgery has been conducted, but the only result of the cosmetics has been to rule yet more players out of the winning equation.

Although the illness which his father, Earl, is battling is intruding on his thoughts, Woods - joking about his dog, Taz, and about the penchant of the august members of Augusta for toughening up the course - was upbeat about this latest Masters expedition, even if there was a hint of criticism about some of the course alternations implemented since his play-off win over Chris DiMarco last year.

Woods, at 30, is already an old hand at Augusta. This is his 12th Masters, and his strike rate is better than anyone else's in the field.

Different years have called for different means. In 1997, it was by a record 12 strokes; last year, it was by virtue of a first-hole birdie in sudden death.

"It's great to be back," enthused Woods. "The golf course is in perfect shape . . . (we're) very curious to see how it is going to play."

When asked if he agreed with the changes, Woods was pretty much to the point.

"Not really," he replied, expanding: "I don't see why they needed to mess with (number) four. It was pretty tough and fine just the way it was. I've never hit lumber into four, that's different now. Yesterday I hit three-wood. My buddy O'Meara hit driver. That's a tough hole now. Like, it wasn't an easy hole before; now it is even harder."

And, of the seventh, which now plays as a 450-yard Par 4, he remarked: "I thought seven was a great risk/reward hole where you could hit driver, you could hit fairway wood or even iron off the tee, depending on what you thought you could do. Now, you're hitting driver (all the time). It's playing totally different now.

"I certainly agree it has narrowed up the field a little bit. Seeing more of the guys at their length, and what they have to hit into some of the holes, they are having a hard time holding greens. Some of the short hitters are definitely going to struggle."

This is Woods' third title defence of the season, and you don't need to be an astrologist to know that his previous two, in the Buick Invitational and the Ford Championship, ended successfully. It didn't matter what way the stars were aligned.

What has changed, and only Woods really knows how it will affect him, is that his father's health has deteriorated since his last win at Doral. On the eve of the Players Championship a fortnight ago, Woods made a cross-continent trip to visit his dad in California. Such a trip is not planned this time round. Or, as Woods put it, "I hope not."

Of the effect his father's illness has on his game, Woods commented: "I've been dealing with it for years now. It is what it is, and you deal with it. It's always been a very emotional week for us as a family because my first year here as a professional (1997), my dad actually was dead and then somehow they revived him. He wasn't supposed to come here, but somehow came and gave me a putting lesson and I putted great."

He continued: "When you're out there playing, you're out there playing. When you're away from the course, obviously things are a little different. But when you're at the course you are playing, you are grinding. I have enough on my mind out there trying to place my shots and what angles I need to have or where I need to be for certain pins. Stuff like that. So, I've got enough in my head right now."

His focus, it would seem, has been in no way deflected.