US Masters: Of all the storylines dominating the build-up to this week's US Masters, the most compelling is the remarkable and triumphant comeback from injury of Tiger Woods.
Eight days ago, in only his third tournament since returning from reconstructive knee surgery, the world number one clinched his 66th PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Although not at his best for all four days at Bay Hill, the relentless Woods overhauled a five-stroke deficit in the final round by closing with a three-under-par 67.
In vintage Tiger fashion, he sealed victory with a dramatic 16-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole and will launch his bid this week for a fifth Masters title as the overwhelming favourite.
"It's always nice to win a tournament pre-Augusta and I was able to do that again this year," Woods said in the build-up to the first major of the season.
"It's a validation of what I've been working on from the physical standpoint ... but also the work I've been doing with (swing coach) Hank (Haney). This win definitely validates all the things I've been trying to do.
"As I look back at my three tournaments, I've gotten better at each one and that was the whole idea was to keep progressing to Augusta," the 14-times major winner added.
"I was hoping I could get my game where I could feel hitting shots again because I'd been only on the range and putting at home."
Woods is ideally suited to the par-72 Augusta National layout, which was stretched to a formidable 7,445 yards for the 2006 Masters, making it the second-longest course in major championship golf at the time.
He is among golf's biggest hitters, has a superbly creative short game and is arguably the best putter of all time from inside 15 feet.
The biggest challenge at Augusta comes on the slick, severely sloping greens and Woods has become well acquainted with their nuances since making his Masters debut as an amateur in 1995.
"I feel pretty good at Augusta," Woods said. "I know how to prepare the way I like to play the tournament and it helps that I have gained a lot of knowledge from members and former champions I have played practice rounds with."
Anticipation of the almost inevitable title challenge by Woods this week is one of several intriguing storylines.
Padraig Harrington will be bidding for a third consecutive major victory, Greg Norman returns to Augusta for the first time since 2002 and young guns such as Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kim are set to make their debuts at the Masters.
Harrington took the greatest advantage of Woods's injury absence for the last six months of 2008, winning the British Open at Royal Birkdale and the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.
However the 37-year-old Dubliner is doing his best to play down the hype of whether he can follow in the footsteps of Woods (2000), Jack Nicklaus (1971-2) and Ben Hogan (1953).
"Golf is all about performing in the majors but I'm not going to this major and thinking it has to happen," Harrington said of his bid for a rare third major win in a row.
"If you said to me I was going to miss the cut at this Masters and win the Masters next year, I'd be very happy with that, I'd take that.
"While it is nice to be going for three and if it happens it will be a bonus, I'm not going to put my pressure on my ability to win this one. I'm going to try and play down that pressure and distraction."
