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While the lengthening of Augusta National by 155 yards since last year has effectively put the title beyond the reach of the shorter and some of the medium-range hitters, Woods has another advantage over the rest of the field.

Having spent the last two-and-a-half years revamping his swing for the second time since he turned professional in 1996, he feels as ready as he can be for the challenge of his 12th successive Masters start.

"I don't have as far to go to get ready for the Masters this year," said Woods, who won his first green jacket in 1997 by a record margin of 12 strokes.

"Last year I had a long way to go.

I had a lot of different things I needed to fix to be ready for Augusta.

HEAD START "This year, the list has been a lot shorter, and the changes aren't as big.

They're real small, real finite.

From that standpoint, I've got a head start on last year." Woods, who won last year's Masters in a playoff with fellow American Chris DiMarco, has also re-established a psychological hold over his closest rivals in the game.

Since the start of the season, he has triumphed three times in seven starts.

World number two Vijay Singh, third-ranked Retief Goosen and 2004 Masters champion Phil Mickelson, the world number four, have yet to visit the 2006 winner's circle.

So has fifth-ranked Ernie Els, who has finished in the top six at Augusta National five times...

While the lengthening of Augusta National has effectively put the title beyond the reach of the shorter and some of the medium-range hitters, Woods has another advantage over the rest of the field.

Having spent the last two-and-a-half years revamping his swing for the second time since he turned professional in 1996, he feels as ready as he can be for the challenge of his 12th successive Masters start.

"I don't have as far to go to get ready for the Masters this year," said Woods, who won his first green jacket in 1997 by a record margin of 12 strokes.

"Last year I had a long way to go.

I had a lot of different things I needed to fix to be ready for Augusta.

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"We grew up together, we grew up into the men we became together because of one another.

"I love my dad, my step dad that is, I love my brother, I love my boys, my children, but I don't love them any more than I love Pete ...

I hope I love them just as much." Wells received his final standing ovation as Rose Tattoo band members, including Anderson, Riley, Steve Bass and Paul De Marco, carried the musician's casket out of the church.

Mourners burst into applause as the hearse drove away.

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