Tiger Woods has his sights set on a fifth victory at Augusta National. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)Tiger Woods resumes his quest to set golf's record for major victories as the Masters begins at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
With 14 major titles, Woods could conceivably match Jack Nicklaus's mark of 18 if he wins the Grand Slam this season.
Woods hasn't played in a major since his gutsy playoff victory in the U.S. Open last June. Battling through pain from a badly damaged knee, a hobbled Woods held off underdog Rocco Mediate before undergoing season-ending reconstructive surgery.
After a successful rehabilitation period, Woods has appeared in three PGA Tour events this season, winning his most recent start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 10 days ago.
Woods, 33, is seeking his fifth green jacket and first since 2005, when he won a playoff over Chris DiMarco.
"I feel pretty good at Augusta," said Woods. "I know how to prepare the way I like to play the tournament."
While most eyes will be on golf's No. 1 player, it's Padraig Harrington who's riding a Tiger-like hot streak in the majors. The Irishman captured the British Open and PGA Championship to close out the 2008 season.
Harrington, who has never won the Masters, is set to tee off at 10:34 a.m. ET in a group that also includes 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont.
Calgary's Stephen Ames goes off at 9:28 a.m. ET along with three-time champion Gary Player, who's making his final Masters appearance, and Luke Donald.
Woods begins his round at 1:52 p.m. ET in the second-to-last group along with Stewart Cink and Jeev Milkha Singh.
Defending champion Trevor Immelman of New Zealand heads the group in front of Woods.
Greg Norman, a three-time runner-up who famously blew a six-stroke lead in the final round in 1996 to hand the green jacket to Nick Faldo, returns to Augusta for the first time since 2002. Norman got in by virtue of his surprise third-place showing at last year's British Open.
