Tiger Woods (
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It would seem on the surface — given the way the Tiger Woods trend has corrected itself in the past 12 months, after the three years lost in post-scandal wilderness — the only thing that will prevent Woods from winning The Masters this week is Woods himself.
Here is some statistical evidence pointing to a fifth Masters Green Jacket, a first win at Augusta National since 2005 and 15th career major coming for Woods by next Sunday:
* He has won three of the four stroke-play events he has played this year, including his last two events.
* He has won six tournaments in the past 13 months (just 188 players have six or more PGA Tour wins in their entire careers).
* The clutch putting that was a hallmark of his dominance appears to have returned.
* In the seven Masters he has not won since 2005, Woods has finished out of the top six only once (his tie for 40th last year).
Perhaps the only thing that could get in the way of Woods putting an end to the longest major-less stretch of his brilliant career, and winning his first since the 2008 U.S. Open, is if he succumbs to the human-nature element of wanting — and needing — it too much.
He was uncharacteristically frank about “forcing it” in 2006, wanting to win so badly for his father.
“That one hurt the most of any tournament that I have failed to win,” Woods said. “I’ve lost tournaments before, and I’ve been through some tough defeats over the years, but nothing like that because I knew my dad would never live to see another major championship.
“I tried to force it. I knew he was at home watching and just really wanted to have him be a part of one last major championship victory. And I didn’t get it done. It hurt quite a bit. That Masters hurt. There’s never been another defeat that’s felt like that.”
Woods might scoff at the notion when asked about it publicly, but he knows he needs to win another major championship to prove to himself he is completely back from the personal scandal, series of injuries and latest swing change.
“If Tiger plays well, what does it matter what the other [players] do?” said Paul Azinger, a 12-time PGA Tour winner, winning Ryder Cup captain and current ESPN analyst. “I feel like it’s his to lose. It’s all on him this week.
“I believe the gap between Tiger and the next-best guy may be the size of the Grand Canyon again, if he continues to putt [the way he has of late]. Let’s face it, no one on the face of the earth has ever putted like Tiger Woods putts, especially under pressure.”
Woods’ putting, according to those who observe him most, has been the biggest difference in his success in 2013. Woods took some impromptu advice and lessons from Steve Stricker last month at Doral, and won at Doral and at Bay Hill since then.
“I thought even in San Diego [where he won at Torrey Pines] we saw Tiger much more confident with his putter before any of these [Stricker] lessons,’’ said Andy North, a two-time U.S. Open winner and current ESPN analyst. “I thought we saw a Tiger like we saw five or six years ago. It looks like he’s more comfortable. It looks like he’s got a lot of confidence, and you put all that together and you’d better watch out.”
Azinger marveled at how, in Woods’ recent victories, he won despite being statistically poor in driving accuracy but at or near the top in putting.
“Now that he’s putting good again, he can finish dead last in fairways hit at Bay Hill and win, like he did finishing dead last [in drive accuracy] at Torrey Pines and winning,’’ Azinger said. “Nobody else can do that.’’
North said he has seen a return of Woods’ swagger with his three victories this year — at Torrey Pines, Doral and Bay Hill — and that is not good news for his competitors.
“You know he knows that he can beat you, but the best part is that he knows you know he’s going to beat you,’’ North said.
Defending Masters champion Bubba Watson perhaps best expressed the sentiment of Woods’ peers during a conversation with CNN’s Piers Morgan last week.
“How are you going to beat him?” Morgan asked.
“Hopefully he gets sick,” Watson joked. “I don’t think anybody knows how to beat him. I’m going to go out and play my best, and hopefully it’s good enough to beat him. And hopefully he’s not on his best.”
North said he believes if Woods wins the Masters this week it might open the floodgates for more majors to come — quickly, perhaps this year as he pursues Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.
“I think if he wins his next major fairly soon, say this year,’’ North said, “I think he’s got a really good chance of getting to Jack’s number and maybe more.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com