Tiger Woods: Will Tiger Match Phil Mickelson's Stellar Play at 2011 Masters?

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Tiger Woods Can Prove He Hasn't Lost it at Masters

Tiger Woods opted out of the Shell Houston Open this weekend. It is a shame considering he could use the swings headed into the biggest golf tournament on the schedule.

Tiger Woods will head into Augusta this week battling many things. He will try to match the great play we saw from his rival, Phil Mickelson, at last year's edition of the Masters. He will be fighting an image that has taken more than a couple of hits this past year and a half.

Most of all, he will be battling himself. The once gifted golfer can't seem to regain the composure and swing that once dominated the hallowed links at Augusta.

We have two golfers on entirely different paths. As of this writing, Phil Mickelson is leading the Shell Houston Open on the final day. Whether he captures the win is inconsequential. The fact is he is playing better golf heading into Masters week.

Meanwhile, Tiger is still without a major win since the U.S. Open in 2008. That is a long time for a legend. What is more, Tiger isn't even close.

Woods has looked bright at certain points, but he is far from doing what needs to be done to win a tournament. Tiger is not consistent.

You can't just be good at this stage. You have to be good for four days. That is something Tiger is not ready to do. I would be thoroughly shocked if Woods stormed out of the gate at Augusta. I fail to think even Tiger himself believes he could pull of such a coup.

His swing is sloppy and his swagger is all but gone. The other major factor at play is his competition. These guys used to cough up the fourth day of a tourney to Tiger. Now they see him as a lost kitty. The demeanor of a winner has vanished.

Woods has no shot this week. The green jacket will be placed on someone else. That is all but certain.

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