2007 Masters Preview

There aren't many weeks on my calendar that I look forward to more than Masters week. It's a very special time of the year for me and this edition is no exception.

I'm heading to Augusta with a lot of anticipation for the tournament and for my game. Although my scores lately haven't shown it, I'm feeling very good about the state of my game right now. All the hard work I've been putting in with my new coaches, Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, is really starting to pay off. I'd be lying if I said my game is exactly where I want it, but there are a lot of really encouraging signs.

A few weeks ago in Thailand, I had a shot at winning the tournament and that was one of the first times I'd managed to put everything together. I've had some really exceptional ball-striking rounds and every time I tee it up, it starts to feel a little better and there have been plenty of other indications that my game is about to click.

A lot of people have asked me about why I made the changes, and there were really a number of reasons. I honestly haven't been happy with my swing for a few years now; I've really wanted to find something that was a little more consistent, a little more trustworthy. Even in 2003 and '04, when I was winning events, I wasn't entirely happy with my swing. It just didn't seem reliable. I feel I'm really on the right path now, however. The new swing I've been working on is not only giving me more power and consistency, but it's taken the strain off my back and neck.

Andy and Mike have been really patient with me and working hard to help my game. They do a lot of work with video cameras and that's something I haven't utilize that much in the past. I've found it very helpful to go back and watch my swing and see where I need to improve. It's one thing to feel the right move but often times what you feel you're doing isn't actually what you're doing so it's good to visualize as well.

I'll be honest with you all, however. It's going to take some time where I feel this swing is natural, where I can trust it 100 per cent of the time. But I know I'm on the right path and the key will be even more hard work

Of course one of the other side effects of spending so much time on my swing is that I've let my short game work suffer. In the last few weeks, however, I've been making up for that, spending a lot of time on my wedge play and putting. At Augusta, the wedges will really have a large effect on how I perform, especially if it's wet. I'm not long enough to get home to a lot of the holes and so getting up and down is going to be a key to my game. I did that a lot in 2003 when I won.

I know a number of people saw me at the CA Championship at Doral putting cross-handed and have been wondering if I've changed styles. The answer is no, at least not for more than a couple of rounds. Over the years, I've experimented with a number of styles from belly putters to cross-handed, but I always return to my natural grip as I did for the weekend at Doral. I go to cross-handed sometimes when I feel my shoulders are getting tilted. Putting that way helps me feel the shoulders being level but at Augusta, I plan on using my traditional style.

For the first time in some time, I didn't play any practice rounds at Augusta this year, primarily because there have only been a couple of minor changes to the course. I really wanted to spend more time working on my game than on the particular course, which I feel I know pretty well.

Augusta is also a course where I get a lot of good feelings just from being there. Knowing that I've won there before goes a long way towards inspiring me. It boosts the confidence a lot. I get pumped up just thinking about playing there.

The Masters as a whole, is just a great tournament, a wonderful event that does everything so well. I get chills down my spine by driving into the course, walking into the Champions locker room, stepping on to the first tee, thinking of all the great moments that have happened there. I'm looking forward to that and to playing the year's first major. I know I'm ready and I feel that if it all comes together, there's no reason why I can't contend.

Thanks for your support.

Mike