The Cathedral of the Pines. The hallowed grounds. The reverence. The radiance. The aura. The ambiance. Blooming azaleas. Blossoming dogwoods. Bobby Jones. The tournament never starts until the back nine on Sunday. A rite of spring. A tradition like no other. Sarazen's double-eagle on 15. Golf the way it was meant to be played. Amen Corner. Ike's Pond. Rae's Creek.

Does that about cover it?

Tiger Woods, 5:2 -- Jack Nicklaus says he'll be ``very surprised'' if Tiger doesn't win a second consecutive Masters. Tom Watson says Tiger Woods is in the A-flight and everyone else is in the B-flight. Ernie Els says Tiger has a good chance to win The Masters even if he doesn't play well. Jesper Parnevik has said Tiger Woods might win 20 consecutive Masters.

Geez, these guys sound like Chevy drivers whining about the Ford Taurus.

Next thing you know, they're going to demand Tiger undergo wind-tunnel testing and have three inches chopped off his backswing.

Ernie Els, 5:1 -- I just discovered yesterday the correct pronunciation of Ernie's last name. It's ``Else'' not ``Elz.'' And you wonder why the T-U sends me to The Masters? I mean, who ``else'' could ferret out such valuable information?

Justin Leonard, 6:1 -- Can the young Texan win back-to-back biggies (remember, he won The Players two weeks ago)? And speaking of The Players, I've figured out a way we can turn our tournament into a bonafide major. You know how media members from all over the country converge on The Players to work on their ``preview'' stories for The Masters? Well, here's my plan: We get a bunch of Jacksonville media together to converge on Augusta and start asking ``review'' questions about The Players. Example: ``Justin, isn't it difficult to get fired up for the TMT (The Masters Tournament) after you've just won THE PLAYERS?

David Duval, 7:1 -- If our homeboy wears a green jacket back to Jacksonville, Fuzzy Zoeller will say: ``Congratuklate him, and tell him not to serve a Lubi and Cotten's barbecue at next year's Champions Dinner.

Phil Mickelson, 10:1 -- If Mickelson wins, we get to interview wife Amy, who was recently featured in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. I know I'm not supposed to root, but ... Phil, you da man. Woof, woof, woof.

John Daly, 20:1 -- Barring another Masters victory by the Olden Bear, Big John has to be the sentimental favorite. If nothing else, Daly will keep Rae's Creek well-stocked with golf balls.

Greg Norman, 50:1 -- If Norman doesn't make the cut for the second consecutive year, can we start referring to him as ``The Little White Guppy?''

Colin Montgomerie, 75:1 -- The last time he won an event in the States was 19-Never. So why is he always the trendy pick to win majors over here?

And the winner is ... Davis Love III. He's a big hitter, he's a Georgia native whose father played in the Mahstuhs Toonamint. And he's the only golfer in the field who has finished in the top 10 in each of the last three years.