Just after Tiger Woods strutted confidently off the 18th green on Saturday, two young boys stood craning their necks, hoping for a glimpse of him.

``Is Tiger Woods rich?'' one asked.

``Yeah, stupid. He's got about 70 million dollars,'' the other said. ``He could buy anything in the world.''

Probably not anything, but he certainly owns the world's attention. Who couldn't notice that record nine-stroke lead heading into today's final round of the Masters Tournament? It's nearly as wide as the plush fairways he's humbled at Augusta National Golf Club.

Should the other golfers just go ahead and concede? Will there be any suspense today?

``Well, there's another 18 holes,'' said Woods, who is 19-under par since shooting a 40 on Thursday's front nine. ``If it was 54 holes it would be over, but it's 72 holes. Granted that's a pretty big lead, and I'm playing well. But, still, I have to go out there and shoot a good number.''

Woods' 15-under 201 puts him in serious reach of the tournament record of 271, held by Jack Nicklaus (1965) and Raymond Floyd (1976), and he'll destroy it if he returns with another round like Saturday's 7-under 65.

There were no eagles for Woods, but seven birdies and no bogeys certainly made up for that. And perhaps the most amazing thing is that he made par on the par-5 13th, a hole which he mastered with a birdie and eagle the previous two rounds.

Other than his booming, true drives and his pinpoint iron play, what's the secret to his success? Why has Tiger left the field in the woods?

``I appreciate that he hit the ball long and straight, and I appreciate his iron shots were very accurate,'' said Colin Montgomerie, who played with Woods on Saturday and is 12 stokes back. ``I did not appreciate how he putted (on Saturday). When you add it all together, he's nine shots clear. I'm sure that will be higher.''

Woods has been playing well this year with a victory and two other top-10 finishes, but one, seemingly inconsequential round perhaps prepared him more for this week.

Playing with fellow pro Mark O'Meara last week at Isleworth, Woods' home course in Orlando, Fla., the 21-year-old blistered it with a 59, bettering the course record by five strokes.

That is why he's not amazed at how he's treating Augusta National, a course usually tougher than The New York Times crossword.

``If I didn't perform the way I performed last week at home shooting 59 and a couple other good rounds ... I came in here playing pretty well,'' Woods said. ``It didn't show for my first nine holes, but it finally clicked in and I've been playing basically the way I've been playing all last week at home.''

And even if that changes a little today, if he starts losing balls in the trees or finds the water a couple of times, still expect Woods to come strolling up the 18th fairway late this afternoon, his first Masters victory clearly in hand.

The lead appears that safe.

``I'd be very surprised if he doesn't win it very easily,'' Jack Nicklaus said. ``He's going to have to give it back to them. I don't see that happening. Is there any hope to the rest of the field? I think not much.

``I think everybody ought to just go on home.''