Masters field lost in Woods

Thursday, April 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUGUSTA, Ga. - You are staring at that odd black shirt-black tie combination, wondering just who it is that dresses Regis, when he snaps you back to attention with the $1 million question.

"Who will win this year's Masters? The choices are: A. Tiger Woods, or B. Any of the other 94 golfers in the field."

For the first time in the 64-year history of the Masters, there is no quick answer to such a question. No one has won more green jackets than Jack Nicklaus, but his six came over a span of 25 tournaments. When he was at his best in the '60s, he was challenged by Arnold Palmer, who won here four times.

But Tiger has lapped the field. He has no clear-cut competition. In England, where sports betting is legal, Ladbroke's makes Woods 9-4 to win the Masters. Colin Montgomerie and David Duval are next at a distant 16-1.

"We have never had someone as dominant as Tiger, not in my career, anyway," said Montgomerie. "Even the Palmer and Nicklaus era, they were dominant, but not just one person. Seve [Ballesteros] and [Nick] Faldo were dominant, but not to this extent."

Montgomerie has heard criticism from other golfers for saying that the entire field felt like they were playing for second place after Woods' opening-round 69 at the Bay Hill Classic. But Europe's best golfer insists those critics are "kidding themselves."

"I am [ranked] third in the world and feeling that way," Montgomerie said. "What are the guys below me feeling?"

Woods exhausted all superlatives long ago, but what makes his dominance of the sport so intriguing is how rapidly it has come about.
Rewind to a year ago. Woods enters the interview tent for a pre-Masters press conference. The first question is: How does it feel to be Avis?

At the time, Woods was a clear No. 2 to David Duval. Woods had won just two tournaments in the previous 12 months. He had only recently fired his caddie. His game, if not in shambles, was hardly worthy of a "dominant" label.

He talked of a certain comfort in letting Duval handle all the questions about being No. 1.

Never in contention, Woods fired a 1-over 289 to tie for 18th, nine shots behind champion Jose Maria Olazabal.

One year later, Woods arrives at golf's Mecca worthy of his own enshrinement. He has harnassed his incredible power to win 10 of 19 PGA Tour events since the last Masters.

Officially, this tournament doesn't end until the twilight Sunday, but some think it's already over.

Four years ago, Nicklaus suggested Woods would win more green jackets than the 10 he and Palmer collected. He expanded on that comment Wednesday afternoon.

"That was an offhand remark. It was made sort of in jest," Nicklaus said. "But I think it probably could come true."

It just may be that Woods' only competition comes from Nicklaus in the form of his legacy. It could be 10-15 years before Woods catches Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships. He may never do it.

But is it possible that Woods now is better than Nicklaus ever was?

"I don't know whether he's better," Nicklaus said. "There's no way in the world anybody can tell. I think Tiger over the last six to eight months has played better than I ever played in a particular period.

"But a career isn't made over six months. If Tiger continues to do what he's doing, he'll break all my records. Sure he will."

There is always the chance that Woods won't win here this week. He could have his clubs stolen. He could trip on the Hogan Bridge and tumble into Rae's Creek.

The challengers in this field are working hard to convince the media and most likely themselves that a Woods victory is not cast in stone.

"Even the best player in the world isn't unbeatable," said Darren Clarke, who conquered Woods head-to-head in the Andersen Consulting match-play tournament. "He doesn't play fantastic every day. He just plays fantastic more often than the rest of us."

Said Duval, "I think right now people think any event he plays in is Tiger's event to win, which not too long ago, that was the case with me."
Something says Woods' reign as the world's finest golfer will not be as short-lived as Duval's. Something says we are still watching Woods in his infant stages.

Few of the game's greats have peaked at the age of 24. In all likelihood, a man who has won more than 50 percent of the events he has entered for the last year is going to get better.

"His ambition and his will - if that stays with him, we will have a battle on our hands every week," said Montgomerie.

The battles won't be any tougher than the one right here, where Woods owns the course record.

Take Tiger this week over the field of dreamers.