Tiger Woods watches his shot land on the fairway during Wednesday's practice round. Among the many dramatic stories in the 2009 Masters Tournament, Woods' quest to get back to major championship form rises to the top. (John Curry/Staff)

All eyes are on four-time Masters Tournament champion Tiger Woods today at Augusta National Golf Club. That much hasn't changed.

The reason has, though.

Today's opening round is just Woods' fifth tournament since last year's Masters, and his first major championship appearance in 10 months.

Woods had surgery on his left knee after finishing second in last year's Masters. He reinjured it preparing for June's U.S. Open, but played anyway and won in dramatic fashion.

That was followed by reconstructive knee surgery and an eight-month layoff.

The time off ended a streak of 46 consecutive major championship appearances for Woods, who missed the British Open and the PGA Championship.

Now he's back at Augusta National, seeking to become the second five-time winner and win his first green jacket since 2005. Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters titles, with six.

Fans will have to wait until 1:52 p.m. today to see Woods tee off. Playing in the second-to-last group, Woods will be alongside Jeev Milkha Singh and Stewart Cink, who was Woods' final-round playing partner in 2008. The three tee off at 10:45 a.m. in Friday's second round.

As a Masters warm-up, Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in his third start this season.

"Bay Hill was great, to feel that, and just to see how my body would react again," Woods said. "It's been awhile, and a lot of uncertainty over the months upon months of rehab, and it felt great to hit shots."

"I think all he was worried about was how was his knee, the reaction of his body," said Kenny Perry, who is ranked 11th in the world. "He said it hasn't bothered him. In the slow-mo swings, he's not snatching that knee like he normally does. He's got a different swing going right now. Maybe the time off has made him a better player."

There are 96 players in the field for the 73rd Masters, including former champions Gary Player and Fuzzy Zoeller, who are making this one their last.

Fifty-five of the top 56 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are entered, headed by Woods, who has been at the top for 542 weeks -- the past 200 consecutively.

"He's the favorite by far, but there are a lot of guys playing good," Perry said. "I think there are probably 10 to 12 guys that can win the tournament, that can compete against him."

One player you can probably rule out is Tim Clark, who won the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday with 5-under-par 22. No one has ever won the Par-3, which started in 1960, and the Masters in the same year.

Other subplots to the tournament are Padraig Harrington's bid for his third major championship victory in a row; star-crossed Greg Norman's return at age 54 after a seven-year break; and the presence of three teenagers in the field for the first time.

The teens include Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, 17, a pro who has already won on the Japanese Tour; and New Zealand's Danny Lee, 18, the U.S. Amateur champion who won a European Tour event and will turn pro after the Masters.

The "old man" among the group is 18-year-old Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, who also won a European Tour event this season and is ranked 17th in the world. He's the youngest player to ever break into the top 50.

"The young guys coming out now seem like they have so much more talent at a younger age than what we had in our era at the same age," Norman said.

Woods, 33, has 66 PGA Tour victories and 14 major championships. In comparison, Mickelson, Harrington and Vijay Singh have the most majors among the world's other top 50 players in the field with three each.

"We have one guy up there that makes us look like crap, and he's just so good," said Camilo Villegas, the world's 10th-ranked golfer. "And it's fun to follow him and learn from him and be part of golf when he's playing."

Said Sergio Garcia: "You guys always compare (the players) to one guy, and it's kind of unfair for the rest because he's extraordinary. He's a little bit different than the rest."

While he was rehabbing, Woods' lead in the world ranking dropped. He bumped it back up by winning at Bay Hill.

"I never put anything past that guy," Perry said. "You think we're getting closer to him, then he separates himself from us again. He always does that."

Though Woods has not won here since 2005, he also hasn't finished lower than third in the past three Masters. He attributed his winless streak to a balky putter.

"I get on rolls where I make everything, and I get on rolls where I didn't make anything," he said. "Consequently, I didn't win the tournament."

He led the field in putting at Bay Hill, winning with a 16-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

Greg Norman, who was the world's No. 1 for 331 weeks in his prime, said Woods is the best putter he's ever seen from outside nine feet.

"Every top player has always been a great putter inside six feet, but there's been very few players that just absolutely wipe you off the face of the planet with the way he putts outside nine feet," Norman said of Woods.

Geoff Ogilvy said Woods hasn't missed a clutch putt yet:

"I mean, he will -- or maybe he won't. Who knows? He makes that putt at Bay Hill and everyone is impressed, but no one is surprised."

Harrington, who is seeking to join Woods and Ben Hogan as the only players to win three consecutive majors, has been relegated to second-banana status because of Woods' major championship comeback. He should be back in the spotlight when the tournament starts, though.

"He's there when they roll out the majors," Ben Crenshaw said of Harrington. "I'm sure he'll have his nose in it."

Harrington looks at it this way: It's another chance to win a major.

"All of those things bring their own pressure. Just because it's three in a row, it adds to it, but not significantly," he said. "It doesn't make the pressure any different of turning up at any major and trying to win it."

The Irishman tied for fifth in the 2008 Masters and seventh in 2007.

"I think his chances are excellent this week," Norman said. "When he steps on the first tee, he will know he's stepping on the first tee. He will know what the next 72 holes means to him, and he was going to be trying to achieve that outcome ultimately."

Woods, who knows a thing or two about winning consecutive majors, said Harrington's quest won't be easy.

"I remember trying to do it myself, and it's hard," he said. "There's a lot of factors that go into it. Having your game together, playing well at the right time, and on top of that, getting the right breaks."

Harrington's play over the past few years has boosted his world ranking from 12th last year at this time to fifth.

"We all know he's been a wonderful player," Woods said. "It's just a matter of Paddy winning his first major, and you knew that was going to happen. He has the game to win more. And lo and behold, he wins two last year."

Lost in all the attention focused on Woods, Harrington, Norman and the three teens is defending champion Trevor Immelman.

The South African is trying to become the first back-to-back winner at the Masters since Woods in 2001-02, and only the fourth ever.

Immelman, always a slow starter, has been true to form this year.

"Since I came back, I had a little bit of a slow start, but my game within the last few weeks has really started to feel like it's coming around," Immelman said. "There was a couple of things that I wanted to work on in my game, and I feel like those changes are going to really work for me in the long run."

Immelman will tee off today at 1:41 p.m. with Adam Scott and Danny Lee.

"Last year's tournament was a defining moment in my career, so far," Immelman said. "But I need to focus on this year's tournament now, so I'm going to need to try to find a way to settle down as soon as I can and get on with the 2009 Masters."

Then there's two-time Masters champion Mickelson and former U.S. Open winner Ogilvy, the only players to have won twice on the PGA Tour this season.

Mickelson has won two of his past four starts.

"I feel like right now I'm playing some of the best golf that I've ever played," Mickelson said. "I'm driving the ball better than I ever have.

"The last few years of changes with Butch (Harmon) have settled in to where I'm confident in my game and in my equipment, and I feel like I'll be able to in the next five years achieve levels of play that I haven't achieved earlier in my career."

Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, has won three PGA Tour events in the past 13 months, which has built his self-confidence.

"Most of winning these majors, I think, is a belief thing," he said. "There's plenty of guys who have got the game to win, to have the low score for four rounds around here, but there's probably less guys who believe they can do that.

"Now when I turn up to majors, I know I can win one; I know if I play well, I'll be competing in there on the weekend."

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.