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By John NestorPA SportsTicker Golf Editor
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Ticker) -- It''s going to take four solid rounds to win The Masters - not the prevailing wisdom.
Tiger Woods will have to go out and earn his fifth green jacketafter all, and Phil Mickelson is ready to stand in his way.
A two-time winner here, Mickelson is primed to add to his majorcollection and is not overly concerned that Woods has beenestablished as an overwhelming favorite.
"I don''t think it really matters if you''re favored or not, orwhat people expect," Mickelson said. "I think that nobodyexpected, let''s say, last year''s winner.
"But yet we as players knew what a good player Zach Johnson wasand knew he was going to contend and continue contending inmajors. I think how you''re perceived heading into thetournament really doesn''t matter."
Of course it does not matter to Mickelson - why would it? Hehas won here twice, loves the course and is feeling confidentcoming into the season''s first major.
He won at Riviera earlier this season and is content with thestate of his game entering the unofficial start of the golfseason.
"I''ve had some 20th-place finishes the last few weeks, and Iactually feel really good about my game because my ball-strikinghas been good to this point," Mickelson said. "I feel goodabout the way I''m hitting it.
"The area I need to spend some time is chipping and putting -and that''s an area I''ve never really been concerned with. I amexcited heading into this tournament where I feel comfortable onand around the greens."
Mickelson tied for 24th here last year while trying to defendhis title. It was the first time he finished out of the top 10here since a tie for 12th in 1998. Along with his twovictories, the lefthander has finished third four times, so heobviously knows his way around Augusta National.
"I love this golf course, I love this tournament and I love whenI get here, how you don''t have to be perfect," Mickelson said."You don''t have to hit everything perfect to be able to scorewell."
You may not have to be perfect, but it appears players will haveto be close to it if they hope to derail the Tiger Woodsexpress.
Woods has three wins in four PGA Tour events this season andadded a win on the European Tour already this season as well.
Much of the talk early in the season has centered around Woodswinning a Grand Slam - and that hype has reached a fevered pitchthis week. Woods has fueled the talk by calling a Grand Slam"easily within reason," and Mickelson agrees to a point.
"I always felt it was possible too," Mickelson said of a GrandSlam. "I don''t think it''s an impossible feat, I just think it''sgoing to be a tough one. It''s certainly a possibility. And hehas already won four majors in a row. I think it''s doable."
But not if Woods doesn''t win this week, and Mickelson willlikely be one of his main obstacles if he is playing as good ashe feels about coming here.
Mickelson won his first career major here in 2004, sinking aputt on the 72nd hole to edge Ernie Els. He still seems to bebasking in the glow of that moment.
"It was awesome to see that putt go in on 18," he said. "Andfor me, especially, you know, having had so many chances inmajor championships, having come close here so many times tofinally break through and win.
"I saw a highlight of that putt the other night, and that ballrunning around the cup before it finally went in, and when thatball dropped, it was the greatest feeling."
It was a feeling Mickelson believes he can recapture this week,regardless of anyone''s perception.
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