Tiger talk dominates Augusta build-up

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Tiger Woods has dominated much of the talk ahead of Thursday's opening round at the U.S. Masters where the world number one will be bidding to win his 15th major title.

Long established as the best player of his generation, the 33-year-old American is arguably the greatest of all time and has an uncanny ability to deliver the decisive shot when it matters most.

A four-times champion at Augusta National, Woods will be competing in his first major since his playoff victory at the U.S. Open in June before he was sidelined for eight months while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.

"When you get to the bigger stage, Tiger is the top dog and he deserves the attention with what he's done," British Open champion Padraig Harrington told reporters while preparing for the year's first major.

"He's coming back from injury, it's a fantastic story and it's good to be told."

Woods has appeared in only three PGA Tour events since making his much anticipated return to the circuit but he triumphed in his most recent start, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational 10 days ago.

"He makes that putt two weeks ago and everyone is impressed but no one is surprised," said Geoff Ogilvy, referring to Woods's 16-foot birdie putt on the final hole at Bay Hill.

"He's never missed one (a clutch putt) yet and he doesn't know how to miss it. Every time he has that putt on the last green, you assume he's going to make it."