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By John NestorPA SportsTicker Golf Editor
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Ticker) - There likely is no question that anumber of players would not mind if Tiger Woods no longer was apart of the PGA Tour. Or never was a member, for that matter.
However, defending Masters champion Zach Johnson is not one ofthose players. Actually, he feels the complete opposite.
"I think Tiger Woods, having the best athlete in the world andmost recognizable athlete in the world, the most dominantathlete in the world, playing our sport is by far and away thebest thing that could happen to us," Johnson said. "One, ittranscends golf. He's bringing it to another level. He'smaking the tour a lot better. And from another player'sstandpoint, from my standpoint, he makes me want to get better."
Whether or not Johnson gets better remains to be seen. Thisweek, it is safe to say he would take as good as he was lastyear.
In a way, things are shaping up good for Johnson, who came toAugusta a year ago flying well below the radar.
Johnson made seven starts in 2007 before the Masters and had onetop-10 finish - a tie for ninth. This season, Johnson has teedit up eight times and his one top-10 is a .... tie for ninth.
"I think it's pretty even," Johnson said of his play enteringthe Masters this year and last. "I'm trying not to think aboutlast year, I'll tell you that first and foremost. I remembersome of the things that were going on before the week started.My driver wasn't great at the beginning of last year, my ironplay was pretty good and I was putting good.
Throw in the fact that he is confident after winning here andagain flying below the radar, especially surprising for adefending champion.
Think there would be this much buzz about another player'spossible Grand Slam if Woods or Phil Mickelson were defendingthis week?
"I'm one more year experienced here and certainly you can throwin a little bit more confidence," Johnson said. "Yeah, there'sa lot of similarity I think."
ROSE WILL TAKE THAT BET: Justin Rose has a betting theory forthis week and it includes going against the odds-on favorite.
Asked at his press conference on Tuesday if he would take TigerWoods or the field, Rose did not hesitate to answer.
"I'd bet the field," Rose said. "You've got to bet the field.You have to. But it's just a test, and the bookmakers, they arepretty switched on. They don't give their money away easily,which shows the level he's got to.
"But from the players' perspective, it's important not to buildhim up, but we have huge respect for what he's done."
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who are the four players who have won TheMasters with a birdie on the 72nd hole?
WEATHER: Cloudy weather prevailed for much of the day Tuesdaywith temperatures gradually rising toward 70 degrees.
Wednesday is expected to be partly cloudy and 75 with thingswarming up to 81 with partly cloudy skies for the start of thetournament on Thursday.
PAIRED UP: The first- and second-round pairings were announcedTuesday.
Arnold Palmer will start the event with a ceremonial first teeshot at 7:50 a.m. EDT on Thursday morning. Ben Curtis and ShaunMicheel, who each have one career major championship to theircredit, play in the first official group and start at 8:00 a.m.
Defending champion Zach Johnson has a 10:23 a.m. tee time and isgrouped with England's Luke Donald and Australia's GeoffOgilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion.
Woods begins his quest for a fifth green jacket at 10:45 withplaying partners Angel Cabrera and Stuart Appleby. Cabrera heldoff Woods to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont last year, andAppleby had the 54-hole lead here last year and played withWoods in the final group on Sunday.
Padraig Harrington, the 2007 British Open champion, starts at10:34 along with Canada's Mike Weir and Jeev Milkha Singh ofIndia.
Phil Mickelson goes for his third green jacket this week andstarts at 1:41 p.m. on Thursday with Andres Romero of Argentinaand K.J. Choi of Korea.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Harrington on the hype surrounding a possible Grand Slam for Woods in 2008.
"You know, it's definitely possible for him. I do think it's adifficult task. You know, I think it is up to you guys to hypeit up, but you know, to win all four, you know, if he goes anddoes that, he really does deserve a pat on the back."
TRIVIA ANSWER: Mickelson did it in 2004 to join Mark O'Meara,Sandy Lyle and Palmer.
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