Fred Funk won The Players Championship two weeks ago by hitting more fairways and more greens than anyone else in the field.

Could he win the Masters Tournament with a similar performance?

Some of Funk's peers, filled with respect for his accomplishment of winning The Players at age 48, think he can.

History, and Funk's record at Augusta National Golf Club, say no.

Funk will be trying his best when the Masters begins Thursday. But he isn't sure a week of ball-striking similar to the one he enjoyed at The Players will automatically put him in contention at Augusta.

"Even if I play that well, I don't think it's an apples-to-apples comparison," Funk said Tuesday after finishing an 18-hole practice round at Augusta. "This course is longer, and you've got to hit the greens in the right spots or you're going to be putting defensively. I have high expectations. But the odds are not in my favor."

The odds have never favored The Players Championship winner at the Masters. Only one man has won both in the same year since The Players began in 1974 - Tiger Woods in 2001. Only nine others have finished among the top 10 at Augusta the same year they claimed The Players.

While Funk said he loves the Masters and Augusta National, his track record is not good. He has missed his past two cuts, and four of five. His best finish was a tie for 17th in 1997, 18 shots behind Woods.

In contrast, he has finished among the top 10 in three of his past five PGA Championships, has missed only two cuts in 15 starts at The Players and was sixth in the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Funk said that at Augusta, he will be hitting longer irons into the greens than the big hitters on tour, reducing his chances to land approach shots in the proper spots on the greens.

"I hit one of my best drives today on No. 18, and had a 5-iron into the hole, and should have hit a 4-iron," Funk said. "Ernie Els (who was playing in the group ahead of Funk) must have had a 9-iron in there. Obviously, his chances of getting the ball on the right part of the green increase."

And Funk said hitting greens at Augusta has never guaranteed birdie or par for him.

"I've never been completely comfortable with putting on these greens," he said.

Other players think Funk would contend with the tee-to-green game he had going for him at The Players.

"Absolutely, Fred could win the Masters if he hit the ball that well," Charles Howell said.

"He hit more greens than anyone at The Players, and hitting greens is the biggest key at Augusta."

Mike Weir , the 2003 Masters champion, said a week of consistency would serve Funk well.

"If Fred hits the fairways and greens like he did at The Players, he'll contend here," Weir said. "It all comes down to making a few putts."

Funk's caddie, Mark Long, said Funk is obviously in the best frame of mind at Augusta since he's known him.

"His confidence is great right now," Long said. "The problem with this course for Fred is that the long hitters, like Tiger, Vijay (Singh) and Ernie, eliminated themselves at The Players because they didn't drive it straight. That won't eliminate them at the Masters. It will be more difficult for Fred, but he can do it."