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In the eyes of many, Masters champion Tiger Woods is this week's favourite on the course where six years ago he finished joint third with Singh, one behind Mickelson and two behind the late Payne Stewart.

And now the 29-year-old, world number one for the 343rd week of his career, has an extra incentive - to beat Annika Sörenstam to double figures in the Majors.

The Swede drew level in March on eight, Woods then triumphed at Augusta to go to nine and then Sörenstam won the LPGA title on Sunday.

Woods received a text saying "Nine-nine" from her soon afterwards and when asked on Tuesday if he ever emulated her, he said: "If I could hit it that straight, man.

"I gave her stick for a while because she hadn't won as many as I had. She just kind of surpassed me on tournament victories - by, what, 20! But I always say 'you're a little bit older than I am, so give me time'.

"It's fun to give her the needle every time I get a chance because she gives it right back to me. We have a great friendship and one I certainly treasure.

"It's precise golf. Her focus, her determination, her preparation over the winter months, people don't realise how hard she works.

"We worked on our short games together. She didn't get to this level by just hoping she could play well. She went out and worked.

"It has been great fun to be a spectator of that."