One personal record Tiger Woods doesn't want to set this week is going a fourth consecutive year without winning the Masters Tournament.

Tiger Woods (left) and Gary Player follow their chip shots on the practice green. Woods has finished no worse than third since his last Masters win in 2005. (Kendrick Brinson/Special)

That explains why he repeatedly emphasized in his Tuesday news conference the hope for ideal scoring conditions at Augusta National Golf Club.

At one point, the blustery weather caused Woods to joke to the 200-plus media contingent that "this looks more like a British Open press conference." His wish for calmer winds when play begins Thursday was unmistakable.

"Hopefully, the weather will be good enough where the scores will be a little bit lower," Woods said. "But the last two years, we have had terrible weather conditions. So granted, they moved the tee up a little bit here and there over the last couple of years, but the weather hasn't allowed us to shoot really low numbers."

The four-time Masters champion, who is making his first appearance at a major since his eight-month recovery from knee surgery, has good reason to want low numbers.

When he won a green jacket, milder weather conditions allowed him to shoot 12-under-par or better. In his 10 other appearances, his best score was 5-under, and that came last year when gusty final-round winds made it difficult to erase the six-shot deficit he faced going into Sunday against eventual champion Trevor Immelman.

Since his last Masters victory in 2005, Woods has finished no worse than third, and just two or three shots back of the winner. He cited a balky putter as the biggest factor in his inability to conquer the field.

"The last couple years, my putting has been streaky here," Woods said. "I get on rolls where I make everything, and I get on rolls where I didn't make anything. Consequently, I didn't win the tournament.

"You have to be very consistent around this golf course. Especially now; there are not too many birdie opportunities. It's not like how it used to be."

One thing that remains is the intensity of the spotlight on him.

Woods, who won his third tournament since his return, wouldn't rule out winning four consecutive majors, as he did from the 2000 U.S. Open to the 2001 Masters. This time, though, it would be in one calendar year.

"Well, I know I can do it," he said. "It's hard for me to sit here and tell you that it can't be done, because I've done it before."